site.btaIrish Low-cost Carrier Ryanair Files Petition against Bulgaria in European Commission

Irish Low-cost Carrier Ryanair Files Petition against Bulgaria in European Commission

Sofia, September 2 (BTA) - Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair has filed a complaint with the European Commission against national air carrier Bulgaria Air for not paying airport taxes to Sofia Airport amounting to about 30 million euros. Ryanair considers this state aid, David O'Brien, Ryanair chief commercial officer, told a new conference. O'Brien also said that the delay in the payments was tantamount to state subsidy, given that the Sofia Airport is owned by the State. He also described it as a source of funds for Bulgaria Air unavailable to other carriers.

O'Brien also urged the Bulgarian authorities to learn from the mistakes of Georgia, Greece, Albania and Cyprus who awarded concessions on their airports, where he said service fees increased but the flow of passengers decreased or was stalled.

At the start of June the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications launched a procedure for awarding a concession for the Sofia Airport. The concessionaire will be selected in an open procedure. The concession will be granted for a term of 35 years.

O'Brien said at the news conference that the concession should be awarded to the bidder who will increase the flow of passengers, rather than to the highest bidder.

The Ryanair official also said that the air carrier moves forward the opening of its facility in Sofia to September 6, from the initially planned date in October. The new facility will have three aircraft and offer flights to 21 destinations.