EC probes Frankfurt Hahn aid / Ryanair
18.06.08
The European Commission said yesterday that it will formally investigate public funding which the Hessen and Rheinland-Pfalz regional authorities gave to Frankfurt Hahn airport. As part of the investigation it will also look at its parent company, Fraport AG, and the airport charges and individual contracts concluded with Ryanair.
The Commission investigation follows complaints from a competing airline and from an association of airlines. It relates to two capital increases, which took place in 2002 and 2004, as well as a profit-and-loss transfer agreement, between the airport and Fraport, and an individual contract with Ryanair.
The Commission has launched similar probes or received complaints from airlines that Ryanair was getting preferential, cheaper airport charges in several European countries in return for bringing travellers to boost sometimes depressed areas. Ryanair slammed the latest EU investigation, accusing the Commission of repeatedly failing to take action against what it called abuses of state aid rules by national EU governments.
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