News: Ryanair to appeal Italian court's decision
Flights > News > # 778 (12/05/2006)
Ryanair is appealing against an Italian court’s decision to stop them offering low fare flights on routes between mainland Italy and Sardinia.
The Italian authorities blocked Ryanair’s flights between Rome and Alghero by imposing a Public Service Obligation (PSO) on the route in spite of the fact that two they and fellow budget airline Airone were already operating year-round flights.
Ryanair argue that the ruling is not allowed under European PSO rules and have accused the Italian authorities of abusing the rules by inviting Italian national airline Alitalia to operate the route instead.
Ryanair spokesman, Peter Sherrard, said: “It is astonishing that while Ryanair has been blocked from offering low fares between mainland Italy and Sardinia, Alitalia is being allowed to sell its high fares on PSO routes that it did not even apply for.”
Mr Sherrard added: “The PSO system in Europe is clearly out of control. It is being abused by national Governments to protect high fare flag carriers while at the same time blocking low fare competition. Italian consumers and visitors should not be forced to pay higher fares because the Italian authorities are abusing the PSO system to protect Alitalia and other high fare Italian airlines”.
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