Ryanair's 16th base is

Talking of Air France, lawsuits and protectionism, this Press Release appeared on the EuroAirport (Basel/Mulhouse) website last week, and was also copied to easyJet’s german and French language websites…

EuroAirport statement concerning the judgement of the Administrative Court of Strasburg on 4 May 2006

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In line with the strategic objectives announced for 2004, EuroAirport published its new tariff regulations on 1st May 2004. These became applicable on 1st September 2004. On 5 July 2004, EuroAirport communicated that the airline company Air France had filed a claim with the Administrative Court of Strasburg to obtain the abolition of the new tariff regulations.

In its judgement of 4 May 2006, the Administrative Court of Strasburg has demanded the abolition of the incentive measures stipulated in the tariff regulations.

With regard to this first court ruling, EuroAirport issues the following statement.

EuroAirport management reconfirms that its tariff regulations are fair and based on solid foundations. EuroAirport has difficulty understanding the arguments advanced in the judgement which gives little consideration to the fact that EuroAirport’s tariff regulations have been ratified by both French and Swiss authorities. Furthermore, the judgement leaves room for interpretation and does not give proof of the prejudice suffered by the plaintiff. EuroAirport reserves itself the possibility to appeal.

Since the appeal is without overriding effect, EuroAirport will analyse possible ways of adapting its tariff regulations in order to reply to the demands of the judgement while endeavouring at the same time to preserve the attractiveness of the platform.

EuroAirport underlines that it modernized its tariff regulations at a time when Swissair went bankrupt and when passenger traffic for traditional airlines, including that of Air France, was in stagnation. The new tariff regulations have allowed return to growth. Since 2005, EuroAirport is once again able to offer to the populations of the region a wide range of destinations which meet customer demand and justify the important investments made to satisfy these needs.

In the first four months of 2006, passenger figures at EuroAirport have reached 1.1 million reflecting a growth of 30% in comparison with 2005. EuroAirport makes a significant contribution to the economic prosperity of the region and offers its inhabitants and visitors more than 75 direct destinations in scheduled and holiday flights within Europe and via intercontinental connections.

someone’s at it… :rolleyes:

It’s war!!!

RYANAIR LAUNCHES €1 BILLION IN STATE AID COMPLAINT AGAINST AIR FRANCE

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline, today (Thursday, 11th May 2006) announced that it had launched a complaint to the European Commission against Air France regarding approximately €1 billion in illegal state aid that Air France has received from the French Government over the past number of years. The French Government has maintained an airport charging system whereby landing and passenger charges for domestic routes are often up to 50% lower than on routes between France and other EU Member States. This is illegal under European law and the European Commission has sued other Governments for similar differentiated charging.

As a result of this unfair price advantage Air France has received almost a €1 billion in illegal state aid, which has furthered their dominance in the French market and has placed competitors like Ryanair at a serious competitive disadvantage. Ryanair have therefore called on the European Commission to require the French Government to regularise their charging system and to force Air France to repay this illegal state aid.

Announcing the complaint against Air France, Ryanair’s Head of Regulatory Affairs, Jim Callaghan, said:

“Air France has a rampant monopoly in the French market and this dominance has been enhanced by the illegal airport charging system that has been maintained in France, despite rulings by the European Commission in other EU member states. These substantially lower charges on domestic French routes, on which Air France has an almost complete monopoly, have allowed them to make super profits on domestic routes and to cross subsidise their international routes, on which they compete with airlines like Ryanair. As a result, France is the only major EU country that does not have a significant low fares airline presence.

“For far too long, the French Government have been protecting Air France from competition and this is the most blatant example. Ryanair are now asking the European Commission to take urgent action against the French Government and to force Air France to repay this illegal state aid in order to remove the distortion of competition in the French market”.

Yes Marseille is in the south of France not to far from Nice.

Wish Ryanair would come to MSE? or AB.

Is MARSEILLE in south of france next to the mediterranean sea?

James

They have also announced DUB-SXF.

Uh oh, Air France won’t like this one piece. Good. :diablo: Their policy of ‘everything must go through Paris’ is a chore. Ryanair have deviated from their normal policy of establishing multiple routes from other bases before making an airport a base itself. They were probably trying to mark their territory before EZY did.

However, undoubtedly Marseille will become popular for both inbound and outbound passengers. Marseille has suffered in recent times even though it is France’s 2nd city because of the Air France stranglehold who of course will probably attempt various methods of legal action before the base opens in November.

Certainly a brave move which will ruffle some feathers in France, who knows, maybe they’ll wake up and smell the competition coffee. Morocco, obviously with it’s large local immigrant population will be a success. Likewise, the other routes should be popular for business and pleasure. An airport like Marseille should be able to sustain far more than than the 5.8m it currently sees (perhaps more than double that?) with a population of 1.5m in the local metropolitan area.

Anyway, a very smart move to estabish in a major airport and area in France. 🙂