EasyJet Plc will ask the French Government to freeze capacity increases by Air France SA at Paris’ two airports to allow more room for competition.

New York: The euro fell against the dollar for the first day in four on speculation the European Central Bank will signal its currency’s 22% surge in the past year threatens the region’s economic recovery.

AER Lingus and Ryanair are bucking the trend as European airlines’ losses are expected to widen to as much as $2.5 billion in 2003, it emerged yesterday.