Ryanair may seek damages from Aer Rianta over supports censure

AER RIANTA may face an action for damages from Ryanair after the Competition Authority found the State-owned airport company acted in an anti-competitive manner. The Competition Authority’s censure of Aer Rianta dates back to 2000 and 2001.

Ryanair complained that rival airline Go was getting a better deal than Ryanair at Dublin airport on routes to Scotland. Ryanair then launched a price war with Go, forcing it off routes to Scotland. Go has since ceased operation.

Competition Authority communications manager Market Garrett said last night: “Aer Rianta was certainly anti-competitive in relation to Ryanair and other carriers. It is now up to Ryanair to decide what action it wants to take in the courts to seek redress. Under competition law it can take a private action to the High Court.”

An Aer Rianta spokesman said they would fight any claim for damages as they do not believe they breached competition law.

The Competition Authority has forced Aer Rianta to make significant changes to the support schemes it uses to promote traffic to and from Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports.

“The Competition Authority’s investigation into these allegations revealed that Aer Rianta appears to administer its support schemes in a confusing, arbitrary and less than transparent way,” the CA said.

However, an Aer Rianta spokesman said: “Aer Rianta wishes to reaffirm its contention that it has never acted in breach of competition rules.”

He said the supports involved did not relate to discount for services but were marketing supports. He said marketing supports make up just 10% of supports provided to airlines.