Ryanair shelves Strasbourg route

Tuesday, 26 August 2003 8:45 PM

Low-cost airline Ryanair has announced that it will be suspending its London to Strasbourg route from September 24th because of its ongoing row with the European Commission over subsidies.

Ryanair had been issued a court order requiring it to end its commercial agreement with the airport because it was deemed to be anti-competitive.

The airline was offered ?1.4bn from the Bas-Rhin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which manages Strasbourg airport, to set up the no-frills service from Stansted.

Ryanair has also received subsidies from other regional airports, including Charleroi in Belgium, which is also currently under investigation.

An Air France subsidiary was forced to cancel its London-Strasbourg operation, and launched an appeal on the basis that the aid had distorted competition.

Ryanair's twice-daily service will now be replaced by flights to Baden Baden airport in Germany - 40kms away from Strasbourg.

The Irish airline is still seeking a stay on the judgement to allow it to continue flying into Strasbourg while it is waiting to appeal.

Chief executive Michael O'Leary said: "It is wrong that the anti-competitive court actions of Air France should result in Strasbourg and the Alsace region losing - even on a temporary basis - its only scheduled air service to London. It is wrong that the state aid rules can be misused by high-fare flag carriers to limit competition, consumer choice and lower fares."

Ryanair claims that 200,000 passengers have used the London-Strasbourg service in the past 12 months, compared with Air France's best ever annual figures of just 30,000 passengers.

The decision is not expected to have a significant impact on Ryanair's performance as it accounts for just 1% of its network.

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