Ryanair asks for UK support

Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair Holdings has asked to meet UK government Transport Secretary Alistair Darling before the European Commission ruling on whether Ryanair received illegal state subsidies at Charleroi airport in Belgium.

The move is part of Ryanair's lobbying of European governments ahead of the commission's ruling which should take place in the next two weeks.

O'Leary has indicated that he beleives the commission will decide the deal included unlawful state aid ,and that if it goes against Ryanair it will mean higher fares and reduced competition.

"There is no doubt that a draft decision is floating around that rules a sigificant part of our cost base at Charleroi represents state aid and therefore those costs should go up and fares should go up massively", he said.

"Ryanair has a range of options it can take, depending on what the commission decides'', said O'Leary.

"They range from negotiating with the Commission to closing its base at Charleroi and appealing the decision" he added.