Court gives Ryanair rivals go-head to sue

Court gives Ryanair rivals go-head to sue over ‘subsidies'.

Lufthansa and Air Berlin have won the right to sue over alleged airport subsidies to Ryanair following a ruling by Germany’s Federal Court of Justice.

The country’s highest court ruled Lufthansa and Air Berlin can sue in the German civil courts over what the carriers argue are subsidies to Ryanair in the form of lower airport charges at Frankfurt-Hahn and Lubeck.

Lower courts had ruled the airlines could not challenge the airport charges in a civil case. The European Commission is already investigating allegations that Ryanair enjoys subsidies at the German airports.

The Federal Court ruled competing airlines could seek repayment of money “if a state-run airport grants aid to an airline before it has been cleared under EU rules”. Ryanair said it never sought or accepted state aid.