Ryanair, the World’s most hated airline, are set to be on the receiving end of a complaint made by Air France to the European Commission for receiving hundreds of millions of euros in illegal subsidies according to an article published in the French newspaper Le Figaro.
According to Air France, Ryanair received 660 million euros in 2008 in the form of reduced landing fees and airport taxes.
“This is in direct violation of European rules,” said Air France-KLM, which added: “In practice Ryanair is flying with the money of European taxpayers.”
Air-France KLM said it had filed a lawsuit with the European Commission in November, arguing that Ryanair would have lost €829 million last year without the aid.
The row comes with the European Commission already investigating claims that Ryanair received illegal state aid in connection with the use of seven airports in Europe.