SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of March, 2008
RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
c/o Ryanair Ltd Corporate Head Office
Dublin Airport
County Dublin Ireland
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No ..X..
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
RYANAIR RESPONDS TO FURTHER EVIDENCE OF EU BIAS
Ryanair, Europe's largest low fares airline today (Tuesday, 11th March 2008)
responded to further evidence of the European Commission's bias in applying one
set of rules for high fare flag carriers and another set of discriminatory rules
for Ryanair.
The European Commission announced today that it will investigate Ryanair's open,
pro competitive deal at Bratislava Airport. The Commission's investigation is
based on a spurious complaint by "a competitor", likely either Austrian Airlines
or Vienna Airport in order to block competition from Ryanair and Bratislava
airport. The investigation is completely baseless and coming on the eve of
Ryanair's appeal of the Commission's unlawful Charleroi Decision in the European
Court of First Instance is a pathetic attempt to put pressure on the Court.
The European Commission's unlawful Charleroi decision has already been used by
high fares airlines and high cost airports to launch spurious complaints against
small regional airports such as Tampere, Aarhus, Alghero, Lubeck, Pau and now
Bratislava, despite the fact that the complaining high fare airlines have no
intention of ever flying to these regional airports. They simply want to block
the growth of these regional airports, block low fares, competition and choice.
Ryanair is appealing the Commission's flawed and unlawful Charleroi ruling in
the European Court of First Instance tomorrow and is confident it will be
overturned.
While the Commission responds rapidly to these baseless complaints from
Competitor airlines/ airports, it is doing nothing at all to investigate and
address the serious multi billion euro state aid subsidies to flag carrier
airlines (Air France, Alitalia, Lufthansa and Olympic). The European
Commission's lack of action over these serious state aid cases, has now forced
Ryanair to take separate cases against the Commission in the European Court of
First Instance, to compel the Commission to apply its own state aid rules fairly
and without discrimination against Ryanair.
Complaint Submitted Investigation
Against Ryanair:
Alghero Dec '03 Aug '07
Aarhus Jan '05 Jul '07
Tampere Feb '05 Jul '07
Lubeck Feb '06 Jul '07
Pau Nov '06 Nov '07
By Ryanair:
Volare Nov '05 No Action
Lufthansa Nov '05 No Action
Alitalia Dec '05 No Action
Cyprus Awys. Jan '06 No Action
Air France May '06 No Action
Olympic Dec '06 No Action
Speaking today, Ryanair's Head of Regulatory Affairs, Jim Callaghan said:
"This baseless and spurious investigation in Bratislava is just the
latest example of the EU applying one set of rules for flag carrier
airlines and another discriminatory set of rules for Ryanair and is a
pathetic attempt by the European Commission to put pressure on the
European Court of First Instance on the eve of the Charleroi appeal
hearing.
"We are confident that the CFI will overturn the Commission's patently
flawed, anti competitive Charleroi decision and call on the Commission
to stop ignoring or signing off on continuing unlawful State aid for the
inefficient high fare flag carrier airlines while pursuing baseless
complaints by flag carriers against low fares airlines operating out of
regional and secondary airports.
"This discriminatory twin track approach must end. It is time for the
Commission to start promoting competition and consumer choice, and end
unlawful State aid to flag carrier airlines".
Ends. Tuesday, 11th March 2008
For further information:
Peter Sherrard - Ryanair Pauline McAlester - Murray Consultants
Tel: 00 353 1 812 1228 Tel: 00 353 1 4980 300
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
Date: 11 March, 2008
By:___/s/ James Callaghan____
James Callaghan
Company Secretary & Finance Director