Air France to file complaint against Ryanair
Air France is to file a complaint with the European Commmission against Ryanair for allegedly receiving hundreds of millions of euros in illegal subsidies, Le Figaro daily reported today.
Air France claims the Irish budget airline received 660 million euros (900 million dollars) worth of aid across Europe in 2008 in the form of reduced landing fees and airport taxes, the report said.
Air France declined to comment but Ryanair denied it was getting illegal subsidies, with a spokesman saying: "It's Air France that is getting illegal aid in terms of reduced airport taxes on its domestic routes in France."
The European Commission has opened several investigations following allegations that Ryanair was getting preferential treatment.
But in 2008, the low-cost airline won a major victory when a European anti-trust court overturned a Brussels decision that would have forced Ryanair to reimburse aid received from a regional airport in Belgium.
Le Figaro said Air France planned to file a complaint in the coming weeks.
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Paul Barrett
Mar 12th 2010, 12:17
I would have thought that this was down to a good negotiating team and fair competition. If Air France or indeed any other air transport firm cannot get off their backsides and negotiate a better deal, then that is their problem.