German Court's Failure

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Ryanair-Nachrichten

News Release
17.01.08

Ryanair Regrets German Court's Failure to Overturn Anti-Competitive Injunction on Lowest Fares Guarantee

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline, today (Thursday, 17th January 2008) regrets the decision of the Regional Court of Cologne in Germany, which failed to overturn an injunction obtained by Air Berlin which prevents Ryanair from running its Lowest Fares Guarantee in the German market. Air Berlin obtained this injunction with the intention of preventing Ryanair from highlighting that only Ryanair offers the lowest fares in Germany. Ryanair will immediately appeal this anticompetitive injunction but in the mean time, German consumers will be deprived of the Lowest Fares Guarantee, thanks to Air Berlin.

Ryanair’s Lowest Fares Guarantee offered a unique opportunity for consumers whereby if they found a cheaper fare with another airline, on a comparable route, Ryanair would pay them double the difference in the fare paid. Air Berlin has once again sought to block competition by attempting to restrict the promotion of Ryanair’s Lowest Fares Guarantee in the German market. Air Berlin, with an average fare that is almost double that of Ryanair’s, is clearly running scared from the competition and from Ryanair’s genuine low fares.

Speaking to today, Ryanair’s Head of Regulatory Affairs and Company Secretary, Jim Callaghan, said:

“It is regrettable that the Regional Court in Cologne decided not to overturn this anticompetitive injunction, which is clearly just an attempt by Air Berlin to block low fares, competition and consumer choice in the German market. Ryanair’s Lowest Fares Guarantee is clearly pro-consumer and also gives consumers an opportunity to compare Ryanair’s low fares with the high fares charged by other airlines such as Air Berlin, who continue to charge German consumers high fares and unjustified fuel surcharges. Air Berlin has shown time and time again that it is unable to compete with Ryanair’s industry leading low cost base and genuine low fares. Air Berlin’s average fare of €74, is almost double Ryanair’s average fare of just €41. German consumers are also forced to pay Air Berlin’s fuel surcharges, which often cost more than the actual fare, whereas Ryanair continues to guarantee no fuel surcharges, not now, not ever.

It is clear that German consumers prefer Ryanair as more and more German air travellers are voting with their feet and are choosing to fly with Ryanair, on over 100 routes offered from Ryanair’s 8 German airports. Ryanair will continue to bring German consumers what they actually want, low fares, choice and good service; while Air Berlin continues to fail German consumers by charging high fares, rapacious fuel surcharges and then attempts to block competition and genuine low fares in the German market.”