Duff welcomes Commission decision on Ryanair Stansted-Charleroi route

12.00.00am GMT Tue 3rd Feb 2004

Reacting to today's decision of the European Commission on the contested Ryanair flights from Stansted to Charleroi, Belgium, East of England Liberal Democrat Euro MP Andrew Duff said:

"I welcome the Commission's balanced approach to this problem. It has achieved a settlement of the dispute which should become a landmark decision that encourages the steady development of low-cost airlines at Europe's regional airports.

"But the Commission is quite right to insist that Ryanair pays back its hidden subsidies from the Wallon regional government and does its business in future in a fairer and more transparent way. Ryanair should not have an unfair competitive advantage over its other low cost rivals. Nor should Charleroi be able to undercut in secret the landing and handling charges levied by its mainstream rival airport, Brussels National.

"For Stansted, the decision is good news. But BAA must not neglect its duty to the region in other respects to provide better regular services to Europe's capital cities."