Ryanair: Lufthansa obstructs attempts to revive Austrian airline

IRELAND's budget carrier Ryanair has appealed to the European Commission's competition authorities 'to stop repeated abuses that Lufthansa commits aimed at damaging competition and consumers', reports Hawaii's eTurboNews. At issue is the fate of Austria's Laudamotion Airline, in which Ryanair has a 24.9 per cent stake and now has EU approval to increase its holding to 75 per cent, much to Lufthansa's displeasure.

Part of deal is that Lufthansa must provide nine aircraft, according to the European Commission, a situation arising from and earlier involvement with Laudamotion.

'Lufthansa,' says Ryanair, 'is now trying to remove the nine aircraft that it was forced to provide to Laudamotion by the European Commission, to allow it to restart its services.'

The Irish low-cost carrier, led by Michael O'Leary, blames Lufthansa for levelling 'threats' and 'abuse' from the top of its 'dominant position.'

This, said Mr O'Leary, is only the latest in a series of moves to 'destabilize and damage' Laudamotion.

'Lufthansa has not delivered two of the 11 aircraft required, following the decision of the European competition authorities, concerning the acquisition of airberlin by Lufthansa; some of the aircraft Lufthansa has committed to deliver will be delayed until after the summer season, further reducing Laudamotion's ability to occupy slots and offer flights and services in the summer of 2018,' said a company statement

'Laudamotion will have the possibility to manage a fleet of only 19 aircraft in the summer of 2018, 10 of which are Boeing 737 aircraft, leased by Ryanair. Lufthansa Group has also delayed the payment of over 1.5 million euros of the wet lease (crewed rental), due to Laudamotion, for flights that the Austrian airline operated for Lufthansa in March, April and May,' it said.