Italian Govt Stop Rule Breaks

Ryanair Holdings PLC
02 April 2008


         RYANAIR CALLS ON ITALIAN GOVERNMENT TO STOP BREAKING THE RULES

                ITALIAN CONSUMERS DESERVE COMPETITION AND CHOICE

Ryanair, Europe's largest low fares airline today (Wednesday, 2nd April 2008)
renewed its call on the European Commission to stop the Italian Government's
unlawful attempts to block choice, competition and low fares in Rome.

Since 2005, the Italian Authorities have attempted to deny consumers access to
Ryanair's low fares in a failed bid to protect Alitalia as follows:

        1) In 2005 the Government fabricated false claims about noise at Rome
        Ciampino airport which had to be dropped because military flights (not
        Ryanair) were the source of this noise.

        2) In Feb 2006, the Government falsely claimed that Ryanair's 5 Ciampino
        based aircraft were not based there in an unlawful attempt to force
        evening flights to divert to Fiumicino affecting thousands of
        passengers.

        3) In May 2006 the Italian Government imposed an unlawful PSO monopoly
        between Rome and Alghero forcing Ryanair to stop offering choice and low
        fares on this route, giving a monopoly to a high fare Italian airline.

        4) In May 2007, the Government issued a decree, announcing runway works
        at Rome Ciampino to force an immediate reduction in Ryanair's flights at
        Rome Ciampino. No evidence was ever been provided to the airlines of any
        need for runway works and the Italian authorities also refused to
        explain why the airport should be closed to Ryanair flights on
        completion.

        5) In November 2007 the Consiglio di, Stato, the highest administrative
        court in Italy ordered a stop to these unlawful attempts to block low
        fares, competition, and choice by suspending ENAC's illegal attempts to
        restrict capacity at Ciampino. Despite this ruling, the Italian
        Authorities have still not granted Ryanair sufficient slots at Ciampino
        this summer, forcing further legal action.

Ryanair's Head of Communications, Peter Sherrard said:

    'The Italian Government's repeated unlawful attempts to deny Italian
    consumers low fares and choice must be stopped. The European Commission has
    failed to take any action over these blatant attempts to eliminate low fare
    competition to Alitalia, while ignoring the Italian Government's repeated
    state aid bailouts for Alitalia.

    'The European Commission must start putting consumers, low fares and choice
    ahead of rule breaking Governments'.

ENDS                                                   Wednesday, 2nd April 2008

For further information

please contact: 

Peter Sherrard                                     Pauline McAlester

Ryanair                                            Murray Consultants

Tel. [phone]                                 Tel. [phone]






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