By Victoria Moores in Marseilles
Irish budget carrier Ryanair has lodged a complaint with the European Commission (EC), protesting against the level of domestic airport and landing fees paid by Air France.
It comes a day after the Irish carrier signalled its intent to step up its presence in the French market by launching its first base in the country, using the new low cost terminal developed at Marseilles airport.
Speaking at the French Connect conference in Marseilles, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary struck out about Air France’s domestic landing and passenger charges, which he says are “artificially low” compared with international fees.
Ryanair claims that Air France has, over the “past number of years”, received approximately €1 billion ($1.3 billion) in “illegal state aid” as domestic passenger and landing charges are “often up to 50% lower” than on international European routes.
“We have today filed a complaint with the European Commission, asking them to investigate this in France,” says O’Leary. Ryanair wants France to “regularise” its charging system and recoup the money.
Air France declined to comment.
O’Leary also complained about the public service obligation route system in France, which he believes is “misused widely” to benefit Air France, blocking competition on some international routes.
Ryanair, which is planning to serve 13 routes from Marseilles when it opens its base in November, is calling for the country’s regional airports to have more control over their centrally set security charges.
“What we need is to allow more regional airports control over their own destiny,” says O’Leary. “Many French airports are not yet competitive on their costs. France has got to be more competitive and the only way to do that is to devolve control to the regions.”
Source: Flight International
