A German court has banned Berlin-Schönefeld airport from offering discounted airport charges to Britain’s Easyjet. The Berlin airport authority is not entitled to charge less than the published tariffs for all airlines, and cannot make special rebates or pay marketing subsidies, the regional court in Potsdam decided. Air Berlin, based at Berlin-Tegel airport, had taken the authority to court over what it claimed were improper subsidies for the UK carrier, which established its main Germany base at Berlin-Schönefeld airport this spring, and alleged that the cheap tariffs discriminated against other airlines. Easyjet had negotiated low airport charges and subsidies in exchange for a long-term commitment to the airport. The airport authority has yet to decide whether to appeal against the verdict. Easyjet has not commented yet on the outcome.
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White Cap
