Ryanair calls out Alitalia illegal aid

It’s no secret that Alitalia has been on the receiving end of what many cal illegal state aid, that contravenes European Union law about monopolized corporate state aid. Ryanair has had enough after the failing Italian carrier received more money form the state to avoid bankruptcy. Jim Callaghan, head of legal and regulatory affairs at Ryanair was quoted as saying, “Alitalia’s latest €300m bailout makes a mockery of EU State Aid rules. Propping up an inefficient national airline, which would have gone bankrupt long ago is simply illegal. Continued unlawful subsidies are allowing Alitalia to ignore its debts and rack up losses with abandon.”

Callaghan says that if not for these handouts, the airline would have gone bankrupt years ago, and unlawful aid is not fair to other airlines who aren’t granted such privileges.

Callaghan continued, “We are again today, calling on the Commission to stop ignoring this state aid scandal and to start applying its own state aid and competition rules fairly”.