Ryanair insists it “fully respects” competition regulation in all European Union airports

Reus (ACN).- On Friday the Irish low-cost company issued a statement in reply to Wednesday’s announcement by the European Commission of the launch of an in-depth investigation into the marketing agreement between Ryanair and the Catalan airports of Girona-Costa Brava and Reus (near the Costa Daurada). A competitor of Ryanair at Barcelona El Prat Airport had filed a complaint in Brussels accusing the Irish airline of profiting from public grants that were violating EU competition regulations as they were in fact state aid. On Wednesday, the European Commission announced the launch of an in-depth investigation, which “does not prejudge the outcome”. In its statement, Ryanair pointed out that the European Court of Justice has already issued a judgement in 2008 stating that marketing agreements with airports are not state aid, when a similar investigation was opened into the agreement between the low-cost airline and the Belgian airport of Charleroi.

Taking into account the in-depth investigation announced on Wednesday by the European Commission into Ryanair’s marketing agreements in Catalonia’s Girona-Costa Brava and Reus airports, the airline’s Communication Director, Robin Kiely, stated that the company’s agreements with all EU airports “fully respect competition regulation”. The Irish company pointed out that a similar investigation was launched years ago regarding Ryanair’s agreement with Charleroi Airport, near Brussels. In 2008, the European Court of Justice stated that Ryanair’s contracts with European airport cannot be considered as state aid since they are agreements between independent parties and they act in their own interests.

Reus also emphasised that the agreement is totally legal

The City Council of Reus, which is part of the Strategic Council of Reus Airport, has totally denied ever having given state aid to Ryanair. The City Council explained that between the private airline and the airport there is “only a commercial and tourist promotion contract”, which is “within the legal framework”, as Reus Deputy Mayor, Alícia Alegret, emphasised on Wednesday.