APPEAL CIAMPINO DECISION
Ryanair Holdings PLC
12 October 2007
RYANAIR TO APPEAL COURT'S DECISION ON SLOTS AT CIAMPINO AIRPORT
Ryanair, Europe's largest low fares airline today (Friday, 12th October 2007)
condemned the failure of the regional court (TAR) in Rome to grant an injunction
to stop the Italian Government from unlawfully restricting the availability of
low fares in the Rome market, a move that provides further illegal protection of
Alitalia and restricts consumer choice. Ryanair will immediately appeal the
court's decision.
Since at least 2005, the Italian Government has been trying to reduce the
availability of low fares at Rome Ciampino. False claims were made by ENAC, the
Italian Aviation Authority about a night time noise issue at the airport despite
the fact that Ryanair operates the youngest and quietest aircraft at the airport
and does not operate any night time flights.
When it became clear that this bogus excuse for restricting growth at Ciampino
would not stand up, the Italian Government fabricated a different claim,
ordering that the airport would have to be closed for at least 5 months for
'essential runway works', that capacity would be reduced by 30% in the interim
and that upon completion the airport would be closed to commercial traffic!
These claims are utter fabrication and Ryanair calls on the European Commission
to accelerate its investigation into this blatantly unlawful action by the
Italian Government.
Speaking today, Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary said:
'The TAR's failure to protect Italian consumers from this abuse of
European and Italian law is very disappointing. The imposition of these
bogus restrictions by the Italian Government will force Roman consumers
to pay the higher fares charged by Alitalia, while causing significant
damage to tourism in Rome. Ryanair will appeal this decision of the TAR
Lazio but is calling on the European Commission to immediately put an
end to the Italian Government's incessant protection of Alitalia.'.
ENDS. Friday, 12th October 2007
For further information please contact:
Peter Sherrard - Ryanair Robert Marshall - Murray Consultants
Tel: 00 353 1 812 1228 Tel: 00 353 1 4980 300
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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