Ryanair looks for judicial reviews

One more thing:Ryanair's legal department is working overtime at present. The low-fares airline lodged papers seeking leave for two judicial reviews yesterday - one in relation to planning permission for Terminal 2 at Dublin airport and the other challenging the aviation regulator's recent determination on airport charges.

In May, aviation regulator Cathal Guiomard said airport passenger charges in Dublin were likely to rise by 22 per cent to an average €7.75 between 2010 and 2014. The current average charge is €6.34 and the increase is aimed at helping the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) pay for T2 and related projects.

Mr Guiomard decided, however, against increasing charges before 2010 to the disappointment of the DAA. The airport manager had hoped that the regulator would increase the average charge to €7.50 up to 2009 and by up to €8.50 for the five-year period after that.

Ryanair has said it will not use T2 and argues, therefore, that its passengers should not be forced to pay for the new building. "We have no choice but to challenge that decision," said Ryanair's head of regulatory affairs Jim Callaghan. "It's completely unacceptable."

Ryanair is challenging the decision on the grounds that the regulator has already pre-determined the outcome of the next review on airport charges for Dublin.

The judicial review applications are part of a long list of legal challenges being pursued by Ryanair. Michael O'Leary is challenging the European Commission's decision to reject its proposed takeover of Aer Lingus.

The airline is also involved in a legal battle with the British Airport Authority over Stansted airport in London and is fighting a long-running case relating to its operations in Charleroi, Belgium.

In addition, O'Leary is mulling legal action against Aer Lingus over its decision not to hold an extraordinary general meeting to consider a Ryanair motion in relation to the axing of the Shannon-Heathrow route.

All of which should be good news for its legal advisers, including Irish law firm A&L Goodbody.

Ryanair shareholders can rest easy, however, as Mr Callaghan assures us that the low-fares airline gets good value from its legal eagles. "We take a low-cost approach to our legal department as we would to any other," he said. "We're a very efficient organisation in terms of our litigation and planning appeals and we get a good rate from all of our firms."