Billund Lufthavn A/S submits complaint against Esbjerg airport - report

Airline Industry Information, March 2, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Danish airport operator Billund Lufthavn A/S has reportedly submitted a complaint against the Esbjerg airport to the Danish competition authority.

According to Billund Lufthavn, as reported by the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten, Esbjerg airport is skewing competition by unlawfully subsidising the low-cost airline Ryanair.

Billund Lufthavn claims that Ryanair is paying only 25% of the fees that other airlines have to pay for using the Esbjerg airport. As the airport is wholly-owned by the municipality of Esbjerg this amounts to an annual support of DKK4m from public funds, Billund Lufthavn says.

Esbjerg Lufthavn has not confirmed any figures, but said that it regards it completely acceptable that large customers are given discounts.

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