Hotel industry concerned over outcome of Charleroi ruling

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has called on the Government to use its influence while holding the EU Presidency to ensure that any decision by the EU Commission on the Ryanair Charleroi issue does not have any negative impact on low-fares air access to Ireland.

The IHF said in a statement today that any decision by the EU to tighten its control on air travel in Europe may have a disastrous effect on future Irish tourism.

Commenting on the prospect of a decision by the European Commission, John Power of the IHF said: "The impact of a decision by the Commission to stunt the growth of air access would be an enormous step backwards for the tourism industry and would have far reaching consequences".

He added: "It would discourage people from traveling within the EU and is not in the interest of the consumer.

"Recent years have seen huge growth in Irish people taking short breaks throughout Europe and vice versa. The availability of low-fare air travel has been fundamental in fostering this growth."

Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, voiced similar concerns during an RTÉ Radio interview earlier today, in which he stated that such a decision could have detrimental implications for Aer Lingus as it continues to introduce new European routes, and could also affect the way in which Ireland's regional airports are funded.

Mr Brennan said he had told the Transport Commissioner, Loyola de Palacio, of his concerns.

Recent press reports have said that Ryanair might have to pay back between €4m and €13m to the Walloon regional government in Belgium for discounts the airline received to land at Charleroi.