Originally Posted by
j636
Anyone think that FR will start flights from Lyon. The new loco terminal has being completed and offers 40% reduction in charges.
For Ryanair it's not just about reductions in passenger charges - it's about how much marketing support (=subsidy) the airport will pay on top of reduced passenger charges. As an example, in the Commission's latest update on its investigation into Angouleme airport and its aid to Ryanair, it notes that in 2008 the net payment (charges payable by Ryanair, minus marketing support payable by the airport) was -€14 per passenger. That's €14 paid BY the airport TO Ryanair for every passenger. And judging by the direction the Commission report is going in, this aid is likely to have to be paid back.
So if Lyon wants Ryanair, I suggest they not only need to reduce their charges, they also need to find some generous sources of support funding who don't pay any attention to EC state aid investigations and are untroubled about compliance or non-compliance with EC state aid rules.