Time to break up the BAA

Ryanair Holdings PLC
28 April 2008



                BAA INTERFERES IN COMPETITION COMMISSION INQUIRY

                       TIME TO BREAK UP THE BAA MONOPOLY



Ryanair, Europe's largest low fares airline today (Monday, 28th April 2008)
responded to news that the BAA monopoly was caught trying to influence the
Competition Commission's inquiry into the BAA's expansion plans at Stansted
Airport. The Competition Commission confirmed to the Sunday Times and the
Financial Times that the BAA had attempted to interfere in its appointment
process to engage a consultant to report on the airport monopoly.

Ryanair has complained for years that the BAA monopoly is guilty of playing the
regulatory system in order to increase charges at its monopoly airports so it
comes as no surprise that the BAA has interfered in the Competition Commission's
inquiry into its airport monopoly.

At Stansted airport for example, users are unanimously opposed to the BAA
monopoly's £4bn proposed expenditure on a second terminal and runway when it
could and should be built for less than one quarter the price. The BAA Monopoly
is simply gold plating this facility so that it can double airport charges.
Instead of protecting the interests of airport users as it is legally obliged to
do, the CAA regulator is simply rubber stamping the BAA's waste and monopoly
price hikes.

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

        'The news that the BAA monopoly was caught interfering in the
        Competition Commission's inquiry comes as no surprise to Ryanair. The
        BAA has a long history of abusing its monopoly position and has for
        years successfully exploited its historical relationship with the CAA,
        which is supposed to regulate this airport monopoly. The result for
        passengers who pay exorbitant prices while stuck in queues, using
        facilities that arrive years late and don't work has been disastrous.

        'Ryanair welcomes the Competition Commission's inquiry into the BAA
        monopoly and again calls on the Government to break it up to allow
        competition to work where the BAA monopoly and regulation by the CAA
        have clearly failed'.

Ends             Monday, 28th April 2008

For further information:

Peter Sherrard - Ryanair             Pauline McAlester - Murray Consultants

Tel: [phone]               Tel: [phone]




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