Dismissal of AL Injunction

Ryanair Holdings PLC
19 March 2008



       RYANAIR WELCOMES EUROPEAN COURT DISMISSAL OF AER LINGUS INJUNCTION

Ryanair, Europe's largest low fares airline, today (Wednesday, 19th March 2008)
welcomed the European Court of First Instance's (CFI's) dismissal of Aer Lingus'
request for an injunction against Ryanair, which was part of Aer Lingus' effort
to force Ryanair to sell its minority shareholding. The European Commission had
already confirmed that since Ryanair has neither de facto nor de jure control
over Aer Lingus, there are no legal grounds for such a compulsory disposal.

Ryanair's lack of influence over Aer Lingus has been highlighted by the two
separate refusals by the Aer Lingus Board to hold an EGM at the request of
Ryanair, which would have allowed shareholders to consider Aer Lingus'
abandonment of its profitable Shannon-Heathrow route.


Speaking today, Ryanair's Head of Regulatory Affairs, Jim Callaghan, said:

        'We welcome the European Court's rejection of Aer Lingus' request for an
        injunction against Ryanair. The European Commission had already decided
        on this issue and found that Ryanair has no control over Aer Lingus and
        it therefore cannot force Ryanair to sell its minority stake.

        'This is just another waste of legal costs by Aer Lingus and an attempt
        to deflect from the fact that, their fares and fuel surcharges continue
        to increase, whereas Ryanair had committed to reducing Aer Lingus' fares
        by 10% and eliminating its unjustified fuel surcharges, saving consumers
        over €100m. p.a.

        'Ryanair looks forward to overturning the Commission's unlawful
        prohibition of Ryanair's merger with Aer Lingus at a time when far
        larger airline mergers are being approved by the European Commission
        (such as Lufthansa/Swiss, Air France/KLM and Air France/ Alitalia).
        There was no justification for the Commission's nakedly political
        decision to prohibit this merger between two Irish airlines which
        between them account for just 5% of EU air travel.

        'It is about time that the European Commission began promoting
        pro-consumer consolidation, such as the Ryanair/Aer Lingus merger, which
        guaranteed lower fares, the removal of fuel surcharges and improved
        services for Irish consumers, instead of protecting high fare, fuel
        surcharging flag carrier mergers'.


        Ends.   Wednesday, 19th March 2008

        For reference: Peter Sherrard - Ryanair
        Tel: [phone] 
        
        Pauline McAlester - Murray Consultants
        Tel: [phone]



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
         GGDXDXBGGIC