Ryanair hits out at 'ridiculous' Lufthansa legal action

Ryanair has filed a third complaint to the European Commission over legal action by Lufthansa in the German courts.

Court orders won by Lufthansa in Cologne restrict Ryanair's German advertising.

The latest ruling, won last week by Lufthansa, stops Ryanair using Frankfurt-Hahn airport's name in any of its advertising.

The first two rulings required Ryanair to specify that its fares applied to Frankfurt-Hahn airport and to limit its criticisms of Lufthansa.

In a statement released to the London Stock Exchange, Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary says: "The only thing that Lufthansa haven't yet got an injunction from the German courts is to prevent Ryanair calling itself Ryanair.

"Lufthansa have also tried to prevent Ryanair using the phrase dirty tricks in connection with Lufthansa, although clearly these ridiculous court actions are nothing more than the latest dirty tricks from the German flag carrier airline which is determined to prevent the spread of competition and low fares in the German market."

Mr O'Leary says: "What is absolutely crazy is that Lufthansa can now get an order from the German courts to prevent Ryanair referring to an airport by its legal name."