Ryanair sues Italian aviation authority

Ryanair has filed a lawsuit against Italy's aviation authority for cutting traffic at Rome's smaller airport by 30 per cent, …

Ryanair has filed a lawsuit against Italy's aviation authority for cutting traffic at Rome's smaller airport by 30 per cent, a move the low-cost airline says is aimed at protecting national carrier Alitalia.

Michael O'Leary frolics around following a press conference in Rome. Ryanair has sued the Italian aviation authority ENAC. Image: AP.
Michael O'Leary frolics around following a press conference in Rome. Ryanair has sued the Italian aviation authority ENAC. Image: AP.

Italian politicians and civil aviation authority ENAC last month agreed to reduce the number of flights out of Ciampino airport to 100 from 138 daily from November, after complaints of congestion and high noise levels from local residents.

Ryanair, which has also asked the European Commission to intervene, says military aircraft, rather than its flights, are to blame for noise at night and dismissed ENAC's claim that runway repairs are another reason for the cuts.

"This is nothing more than the latest illegal attempt by ENAC and the Italian government to limit the growth of low-cost carriers to protect Alitalia," Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary told a news conference today.

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He said the decision will force Ryanair to cancel 66 flights each week, or about 12 per cent of its flights out of Ciampino - Rome's second airport that caters to budget airlines. After investing €350 million at Ciampino over the years, Ryanair does not want to move its flights to Rome's larger Fiumicino hub, he said.

The airline's complaint filed at the Lazio regional court seeks a temporary injunction against the traffic cuts.

"All we want to be allowed to do is to continue to fly our existing operations," said Mr O'Leary.

The Irish airline is in talks with three other Italian cities to set up a new base, including one city on the mainland and the other two on Italian islands, he said.

Ryanair has repeatedly criticised Italian state support for the loss-making Alitalia, in which the government is trying to sell its controlling stake - so far unsuccessfully.

O'Leary laughed when asked if he would consider buying the Italian national airline as Rome continues its search for a buyer. He said he would not take over Alitalia even if were given away for free.