Ryanair appeals against aid ruling

Ryanair has launched an appeal against an “anti-competitive” ruling over subsidies for using a Belgian airport, it was announced today.

The no-frills carrier said it had filed an appeal against a European Commission finding that certain elements of its arrangements with Charleroi airport were illegal state aid.

Ryanair said it was confident that the “seriously flawed” decision would be overturned.

It has filed its appeal against the ruling to the European Court of First Instance requesting the court to annul the decision.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said: “It is unfortunate that after having successfully liberalised the market for air transport, which ushered in an era of unprecedented competition and low fares for consumers, the European Commission now appears to be playing into the hands of the struggling, former monopoly national airlines and monopoly hub airports, to protect them from competition.”

Ryanair last month announced a deal that will allow it to carry on flying to and from Charleroi, which is near Brussels, in spite of the Commission ruling.