SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of November, 2003
RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
c/o Ryanair Ltd Corporate Head Office
Dublin Airport
County Dublin Ireland
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No ..X..
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
AIR FRANCE FAVOURS HIGHER FARES... NOT COMPETITION
Ryanair Europe's No.1 low fares airline, today (21st Nov'03) responded to Air
France's false press release of 20th November. This statement by Air France was
untruthful because Air France have never favoured competition and the lowest
fare quoted by Ryanair for an Air France midweek return from Strasbourg to
London at over EUR780 is correct.
Ryanair confirmed to the Financial Times that Air France's lowest midweek return
fare from Strasbourg to London is GBP780 return, a fare that is 40 times higher
than Ryanair's lowest midweek return fare on the route of EUR19. Midweek return
is defined as passengers who comply with the Saturday night stay rule.
1. Attached is a copy of this lowest midweek return fare quote (amounting to
EUR794.23) taken from the Air France internet booking site this morning
(21/11/03). This fare is accurate. It is a rip off of consumers and has
caused traffic on the Strasbourg-London route to collapse.
2. Air France in its statement claims that it sells it fares "with no subsidies
of any kind". This is completely untrue. Air France has received more State
Aid from its Government than any other European airline. This is a fact.
Even today Air France operates over 15 domestic and international routes
from France only because it receives enormous subsidies under the PSO
subsidy programme.
3. Air France claim in their statement to be "in favour of fair competition".
This again is an untrue claim. Why has no other low fares airline in France
survived in competition with Air France? Why has a low fare airline like
Easyjet been unable to secure sufficient slots for a credible base operation
at the Paris airports? Why did Air Liberte and Aeris among many others all
fail? Why did Air France take legal proceedings in Strasbourg to force
Ryanair out of the market as a competitor so that it would return with
outrageous return fares of almost EUR800?
The single market is a reality in European air transport, except in markets
where Air France uses its dominant position and considerable influence to
prevent competition and lower fares for consumers. Even on a route like
Strasbourg-London when Air France restored the service, they did so with half
the capacity previously operated by Ryanair and with outrageous lowest midweek
return fares of over EUR790. Traffic on the Strasbourg-London route has
collapsed as a result of these high fares. The success of Air France in this
regard is one of the reasons why low fare air travel is booming all over the UK,
Germany, Italy and Spain, but has made little inroads into the French market.
Ryanair will continue to remain extremely watchful for any further lies and
untruths issued by Air France on the subject of competition and air transport in
Europe. Ryanair's Chief Executive, Michael O'Leary has written today to Mr
Jean-Cyril Spinetta of Air France, calling on him to withdraw this false
statement of 20 November 2003.
Ends 21st November, 2003
N.B Please find attached a print out from the Air France website this
morning showing the Air France fare of EUR794.35 on the Strasbourg-London
route for the 8th-10th December and the 16th-18th December. These fares
are an abuse of consumers and an abuse of Air France's success in
eliminating competition on the Strasbourg-London route.
For further information
please contact:Paul Fitzsimmons Pauline McAlester
Ryanair Murray Consultants
Tel. 353-1-8121212 Tel. 353-1-4980300
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
Date: 21 November, 2003
By:___/s/ Howard Millar____
H Millar
Company Secretary & Finance Director