EU H.U.B.S. and Ryanair

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EU H.U.B.S. and Ryanair

Postby ozzy72 » Thu Jan 29, 2004 6:19 am

Well the EU Technocrats have once again proved they suffer from H.U.B.S. (Head Up Bum Syndrome).
It was, until recently, a little used airfield in a down-at-heel Belgian backwater surrounded by abandoned coalfields. But Brussels' Charleroi airport is at the centre of a titanic battle which is threatening the future of Europe's boom in low-cost flights.
After a two-year investigation, the European commission will next week declare illegal a controversial deal struck by the Wallonian local government to persuade Ryanair to use Charleroi as a base for international flights.
According to Ryanair, the commission's verdict could compromise low-cost travel across the continent, forcing budget carriers to rip up dozens of deals with publicly owned airports.
Ryanair's chairman, Michael O'Leary, yesterday delivered a vitriolic attack on the commission, claiming it had reached a "communist" view which amounted to "a complete cock-up by bureaucrats in Brussels designed to overturn 20 years of deregulation".
He said it would lead to higher fares, the withdrawal of routes and the abandonment of many regional airports: "This is not just an attack on Ryanair - it's an attack on all low fares everywhere."
The commission's findings emerged at the worst possible moment for Ryanair. The airline, which is the biggest low-cost carrier in Europe, yesterday revealed a catastrophic set of financial results which showed the clearest signs yet that its meteoric growth was faltering.
Ryanair disclosed its first fall in profits since 1989 and admitted it had been forced to slash its fares by up to 30% this month to fill its aircraft. Its shares collapsed by 25%, wiping more than
Last edited by ozzy72 on Thu Jan 29, 2004 6:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: EU H.U.B.S. and Ryanair

Postby C » Thu Jan 29, 2004 7:45 am

...and sometimes I wonder why I hate the EU so much! Lining there own pockets. No doubt Loyola de Palacio has put all of his/her airline tickets on expenses in the last few years (and wouldn't dream of flying Ryanair...)

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!

Its the UK all the way for me ::)

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