9212 Ryanair attack Italian government about Ciampino

A press release from Ryanair's web site today;

"[b]Ryanair Calls on Italian Government to Stop Breaking the Rules
ITALIAN CONSUMERS DESERVE COMPETITION AND CHOICE[/b]

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline today (2nd April) renewed its call on the European Commission to stop the Italian Government’s unlawful attempts to block choice, competition and low fares in Rome.

Since 2005, the Italian Authorities have attempted to deny consumers access to Ryanair’s low fares in a failed bid to protect Alitalia as follows:

1) In 2005 the Government fabricated false claims about noise at Rome Ciampino airport which had to be dropped because military flights (not Ryanair) were the source of this noise.
2) In Feb 2006, the Government falsely claimed that Ryanair’s 5 Ciampino based aircraft were not based there in an unlawful attempt to force evening flights to divert to Fiumicino affecting thousands of passengers.
3) In May 2006 the Italian Government imposed an unlawful PSO monopoly between Rome and Alghero forcing Ryanair to stop offering choice and low fares on this route, giving a monopoly to a high fare Italian airline.
4) In May 2007, the Government issued a decree, announcing runway works at Rome Ciampino to force an immediate reduction in Ryanair’s flights at Rome Ciampino. No evidence was ever been provided to the airlines of any need for runway works and the Italian authorities also refused to explain why the airport should be closed to Ryanair flights on completion.
5) In November 2007 the Consiglio di, Stato, the highest administrative court in Italy ordered a stop to these unlawful attempts to block low fares, competition, and choice by suspending ENAC’s illegal attempts to restrict capacity at Ciampino. Despite this ruling, the Italian Authorities have still not granted Ryanair sufficient slots at Ciampino this summer, forcing further legal action.

Ryanair’s Peter Sherrard said;

“The Italian Government’s repeated unlawful attempts to deny Italian consumers low fares and choice must be stopped. The European Commission has failed to take any action over these blatant attempts to eliminate low fare competition to Alitalia, while ignoring the Italian Government’s repeated state aid bailouts for Alitalia.

“The European Commission must start putting consumers, low fares and choice ahead of rule breaking Governments”.

A bit of background to this story: the govt has already tried to reduce the number of flights daily from 131 to 100 and is now trying to force Ryanair to move to Viterbo, 80 Km north of Rome, in 3 years time; good for those of us who live in Umbria & Tuscany, but very inconvenient for Rome and the south.