A NUMBER of airport authorities that alleged persistent delays by Ryanair in paying airport charges have settled their action against the private airline over outstanding charges.
The proceedings were issued in February 2010 by Dublin, Cork and Shannon aviation authorities, after which Ryanair paid some €4.2 million but disputed whether a further €1.5 million was owed. It also denied it had paid in response to the court proceedings being taken.
The authorities argued that airport charges had to be paid within 30 days but Ryanair claimed it was entitled to a 60-day period.
That issue, it was claimed previously, was the subject of earlier court proceedings that had led to orders requiring Ryanair to pay the sums due, including, in one case, an order directing it to pay some €8.4 million.
Ryanair claimed there was a historical acceptance of its paying charges outside the 30-day limit. It also said its failure to meet passenger targets of some two million at Shannon did not expose it to a penalty.
The case came up for hearing before the Commercial Court this week but yesterday Paul Sreenan SC, for the airport authorities, told Ms Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan that the case had been settled.