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Ryanair brand Catalonia funding of Spanair 'illegal'

Source: El Pais - Wed 11th Jan 2012
Ryanair brand Catalonia funding of Spanair 'illegal'

Ryanair has tried to defend the subsidies it has received from the Generalitat Catalonia to maintain flights at the region's Reus and Girona airports, but slammed subsidies afforded to its Barcelona-based rival Spanair as being "illegal."

At a news conference to announce 19 new flights out of Girona this summer, Deputy Chief Executive Michael Cawley said the Catalan government had habitually broken European rules on state aid in its funding of Spanair, which he described as "inefficient, high-cost, polluting and should be in receivership."

Towards the end of last year Ryanair agreed a deal to the calue of eight million euros per year in funding from Catalonia in order to continue flying out of Reus and Girona airports for the next five years. Based on the understanding that fees at the airports will not increase over this period, in return Ryanair are guaranteeing to bring 3 million passengers per year to Girona airport and 500'000 to Reus.

Cawley also explained that Ryanair "does not look for subsidies, but for low costs," and "does not care" how it goes about securing them.

Comment on this Story

 
How dare Ryanair start barging into other countries blatantly demanding cash from the governments to help them fly into airports. Even blackmailing them. But now since they are greedy and arrogant and don't like competition they decide to throw a fit about Spanair receiving funds. Well I've got news for you Ryanair, take a hike back to Ireland, no one wants you here in Spain. If you do fly here stop winging and deal with your own problems !
Anonymous - Fri, 20th Jan 2012

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