Ryanair slams 2.6 billion subsidies for TAP and asks European Commission to launch slots in Lisbon by summer – Executive Digest

Ryanair today criticized the approval of 2.6 billion euros in government support for the Portuguese airline and asked European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager to launch slots at Lisbon Airport by the summer.

The Irish airline is calling for slot issuance not to be delayed until winter 2022, and has reinforced its previous request to the European Commission that state support for TAP be accompanied by realistic competition measures that would reduce the airline’s dominance of the Khans. .

For the company, this will be the fairest way to enhance competition and consumer interest.

There is no economic justification for giving an airline like TAP more than 2.6 billion euros in government aid, protecting it from competition at Lisbon’s Portela Airport. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager apparently erred in not requiring TAP to provide at least 30% of its daily slots in Lisbon, which equates to a 30% reduction in its fleet. Michael O said ‘The commissioner’s decision to postpone this 5% delivery threshold, the equivalent of 18 daily slots, from summer to winter 2022, is hurting competition and consumer choices in Lisbon and will delay the recovery of Portela Airport, during the pandemic. Leary, CEO of Ryanair Group.

So O’Leary called on Commissioner Margrethe Vestager to “stop giving away endless state aid to domestic airlines, and start promoting competition and consumer interests by accelerating large divestitures as quickly as possible, even when national air carriers receive billions of euros.” state aid.”

A day after approving the €2.550 million TAP restructuring plan and state aid, with some “remedies” imposed, the European Commission asserts that TAP “plays an essential role in the growth of tourism and the Portuguese economy as a whole and is an important employer in Portugal”, having been Responsible, in 2019, for more than 50% of arrivals and departures at Lisbon Airport, and thus the new Portuguese system was approved.