Sir, - Aer Rianta's letter of October 3rd illustrates perfectly why monopolies don't work.
After four years of profligate spending, delivering higher prices, reduced growth and awful facilities, Aer Rianta's defence is to blame some of its customers for these problems. Presumably the reason it raised the daily rate for car-parking by 70 per cent from £7 to £12 last year, was because too many customers were parking cars!
Competition has transformed many sectors of Irish life in recent years. Customers now have choice, better services and lower prices in areas of air travel, telecommunications, health insurance and, shortly, power generation.
During this same period the airport monopoly has been retained and protected by Mary O'Rourke at the expense of the customer. The direct cause of higher prices and awful facilities has been the failure of the Minister to open up Aer Rianta to competition. Ryanair has offered to build and pay for its own terminal at Dublin Airport, which would immediately provide competition, choice and lower prices because the monopoly would have finally been ended.
I suspect that, in a competitive environment, Aer Rianta would spend its time and money addressing the real needs of their customers, rather than blaming us for its failings. Thankfully for Ryanair, there are many more European airports and countries which are encouraging competition growth and tourism. Ireland's loss under Mrs O'Rourke will continue to be Europe's gain. Competition works; monopolies don't. - Yours, etc.,
Michael O'Leary, Chief Executive, Ryanair, Dublin Airport.