Ryanair complains to EU
Ryanair Holdings PLC
9 January 2002
RYANAIR COMPLAINS TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ABOUT FURTHER LUFTHANSA 'DIRTY
TRICKS'
Ryanair, Europe's largest low fares airline today (Wednesday, 9th January
2002) confirmed that it had submitted a second complaint to the EU Competition
Commissioner, Mario Monti and the EU Transport Commissioner, Loyola De Palacio
about the 'dirty tricks' being engaged in by Lufthansa in an attempt to
prevent Ryanair not just advertising in Germany, but now exercising its right
to freedom of speech in Germany.
Confirming the submission of this further complaint, Ryanair's Chief
Executive, Michael O'Leary said today;
'There is no doubt that Lufthansa are running scared of Ryanair in
Germany. Having pulled their Stansted routes because they were unable to
match Ryanair's low fares, Lufthansa have now engaged in a series of
ridiculous Court actions in the Cologne Court (where Lufthansa has its
Headquarters) rather than in the Frankfurt Courts, where Ryanair is
competing with them, which among other things have sought to prevent
Ryanair from comparative advertising in Germany, and even more laughably
have sought to prevent Ryanair issuing press releases or making statements
in the German market critical of Lufthansa.
'Since Lufthansa have sought these injunctions without any notification to
Ryanair, or without allowing the German Courts the opportunity to hear
Ryanair's case, Ryanair will be appealing each and every one of these
injunctions, and we are confident that the German Courts will vindicate
Ryanair's right to comparative advertising in Germany, to speak freely in
Germany, and most importantly to provide competition to Lufthansa and low
fare choice for German consumers. Lufthansa's air fares in the German
market are ridiculously high. There is no good reason why Lufthansa's air
fares should be five and six times higher than those of Ryanair. There is
also no reason why Lufthansa should force German consumers to spend a
Saturday night away if they want to avail of a lower fare, or to force
German consumers to buy a business class fare if all they want is a one
way fare. Lufthansa's fares are far too high, and Ryanair is determined to
end this high fare rip off of German consumers.
'We have appealed to the EU Competition and Transport Authorities asking
them to intervene to restrain Lufthansa from engaging in this
anti-competitive behaviour, and we look forward to a time in the not too
distant future when fair competition will prevail in the air transport
market in Germany.'
ENDS. Wednesday, 9th January 2002
For further
information
please contact: Michael O'Leary, Ryanair, Tel. 353-1-8121212
Pauline McAlester, Murray Consultants. Tel.
353-1-6633332
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