Airline Post

Ryanair asks 2,3 million euro to come back to Ostende

by Roman on 09/03/10 at 1:30 pm

Last week, some Belgium sources started to evoke the fact that Ryanair could come back to Ostende. Yesterday, it was a more important Belgium newspaper’s turn to bring up the topic again.

Ryanair already operated out of Ostende in the past. Back in May 2003, Ryanair launched a route between the Belgian coast and London, a route that had turned out to be a failed project as flights were poorly programmed.
The airport, in order to become more attractive was renamed Ostende-Bruges Airport. The main problem was the competition of the Eurostar and ferries.
As a result of this failed attempt, Ryanair would have planned to instead operate routes towards Spain. Malaga and Geronna have both been mentionned by several websites.

Ryanair asks 2,3 million euro:

As any new route that Ryanair opens, it involves grants and public money. Ryanair made the headlines of several French regional newspapers last week due to stories of blackmail used in order to increase airport fees at Angouleme and Poitiers. Last week again, Grenada Spain local authorities announced it would not be able to pay Ryanair, as the amount was to important for service received… A different country but one same story…
And then in Italy, Alghero also said no to Ryanair’s financial support demands.

Belgium authorities are however currently negociating with Ryanair, and according to Belgium sources, Ryanair would have asked for about one million euros. Several voices have already protested against this type of aid, declaring it should be banned by the EU Commission.
The Flemish authorities, who always have been very critical to aids given by the Walloon Region for the development of Charleroi, seem to totally overlook this fact when it comes to their airport!
But as many politicians would, Bruges authorities dream of the thousands of tourist that Ryanair most probably promised!

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