Charleroi : EC likely to rule some advantage given to Ryanair

The European Commission is likely to rule that some advantages given by regional Belgian authorities to Ryanair are illegal, an EU source said this afternoon to news agency Reuters.

If the decision, expected on the 3 February, goes against Ryanair it will set a precedent for regional airports around the European Union.

The source said the decision would be a balanced one which strikes down some of Ryanair's advantages but endorses others because the Commission is "in favour of development of low-cost companies and regional airports".

The source said the Commission must take into account complaints by rivals against Ryanair for subsidies at Charleroi.

Earlier today Ryanair announced it had brought forward the release date of its third quarter financial results from 3 February to 28 January 2004, in order to avoid a clash with the hearing.

The company said the financial results will be issued as normal on the Stock Exchanges at 7am on 28 January