Italian Govt Stop Rule Breaks
Ryanair Holdings PLC
02 April 2008
RYANAIR CALLS ON ITALIAN GOVERNMENT TO STOP BREAKING THE RULES
ITALIAN CONSUMERS DESERVE COMPETITION AND CHOICE
Ryanair, Europe's largest low fares airline today (Wednesday, 2nd April 2008)
renewed its call on the European Commission to stop the Italian Government's
unlawful attempts to block choice, competition and low fares in Rome.
Since 2005, the Italian Authorities have attempted to deny consumers access to
Ryanair's low fares in a failed bid to protect Alitalia as follows:
1) In 2005 the Government fabricated false claims about noise at Rome
Ciampino airport which had to be dropped because military flights (not
Ryanair) were the source of this noise.
2) In Feb 2006, the Government falsely claimed that Ryanair's 5 Ciampino
based aircraft were not based there in an unlawful attempt to force
evening flights to divert to Fiumicino affecting thousands of
passengers.
3) In May 2006 the Italian Government imposed an unlawful PSO monopoly
between Rome and Alghero forcing Ryanair to stop offering choice and low
fares on this route, giving a monopoly to a high fare Italian airline.
4) In May 2007, the Government issued a decree, announcing runway works
at Rome Ciampino to force an immediate reduction in Ryanair's flights at
Rome Ciampino. No evidence was ever been provided to the airlines of any
need for runway works and the Italian authorities also refused to
explain why the airport should be closed to Ryanair flights on
completion.
5) In November 2007 the Consiglio di, Stato, the highest administrative
court in Italy ordered a stop to these unlawful attempts to block low
fares, competition, and choice by suspending ENAC's illegal attempts to
restrict capacity at Ciampino. Despite this ruling, the Italian
Authorities have still not granted Ryanair sufficient slots at Ciampino
this summer, forcing further legal action.
Ryanair's Head of Communications, Peter Sherrard said:
'The Italian Government's repeated unlawful attempts to deny Italian
consumers low fares and choice must be stopped. The European Commission has
failed to take any action over these blatant attempts to eliminate low fare
competition to Alitalia, while ignoring the Italian Government's repeated
state aid bailouts for Alitalia.
'The European Commission must start putting consumers, low fares and choice
ahead of rule breaking Governments'.
ENDS Wednesday, 2nd April 2008
For further information
please contact:
Peter Sherrard Pauline McAlester
Ryanair Murray Consultants
Tel. 353-1-8121598 Tel. 353-1-4980300
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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