Ryanair threatens to take on Italian aviation authority

Budget airline Ryanair will seek legal action if Italy’s civil aviation authority denies it permission to operate one of three new domestic routes due to start this month.

At a news conference in Rome, Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O’Leary said the airline will launch legal action by the end of the week if civil aviation agency ENAC denies take-off and landing slots for a new domestic route that would connect Rome to Alghero on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia.

“We have written to ENAC, asking for the concession of the slots. Now we are pressing to have a response by the end of the week,” O’Leary said. He said he believed ENAC was trying to prevent competition on the route, usually operated by Italian carriers.

The connection is due to start April 28. The Dublin-based airline said it has already sold up to 10,000 online tickets to Alghero.

ENAC said Ryanair will be allowed to operate the route to Alghero – as long as it meets special ”conditions” that include lower fares for Sardinia residents and a certain number of seats available only for them.