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 April 2004
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- ________
RYANAIR'S LOW FARE SERVICES
AT BRUSSELS CHARLEROI AIRPORT
TO CONTINUE
Ryanair, Europe's No. 1 low fares airline, today (Tuesday, 13th April 2004)
confirmed that it had concluded an agreement with Brussels Charleroi Airport and
the Walloon Authorities which will allow Ryanair's low fares base at Brussels
Charleroi Airport to continue with no change to the cost base, which means that
all of the eleven existing low fare routes served from Brussels Charleroi will
continue.
The agreement concluded between Ryanair, Brussels Charleroi Airport and the
Walloon Authorities contained the following principal elements:
-The existing airport and handling charges will continue for the
foreseeable future until the airport reaches 2 million passengers per annum
at which time 3rd party competitive handling will be introduced.
-Legislation will be enacted by the Walloon Authorities in order to make
the Ryanair discounted arrangements available to other airlines operating at
Brussels Charleroi Airport.
-Ryanair have agreed to actively explore possibilities for basing more
aircraft at, and opening new routes from, Brussels Charleroi Airport,
subject to a new terminal being constructed, and the airport providing a
competitive cost offer for these new routes which would be similar to the
other lower costoffers presently available from a number of other privately
and publicly owned airports.
Welcoming the announcement of this agreement Ryanair's Chief Executive, Michael
O'Leary, said:
"We welcome this agreement which is good news for consumers and removes
uncertainty and allows our low fare services to continue at Brussels
Charleroi. This agreement was timely as we have negotiated a number of
other airport base arrangements in recent months at costs which are
lowerthan that at Brussels Charleroi, and there was a real likelihood
that in the absence of an early agreement with Brussels Charleroi we
would have closed the base and moved the aircraft and the low fare
routes elsewhere.
"These lower cost alternatives again highlight the flaw in the recent
European Commission decision on the cost base at Brussels Charleroi. The
entire basis of the Commission's flawed decision was that no private
airport would enter such an arrangement. We have repeatedly confirmed
that we had other lower costarrangements at the time, and that other
airports continue to offer us lower costalternatives today because they
want to share in the enormous traffic, growth and commercial profits
that Ryanair's low fare services deliver. The Brussels Charleroi cost
base passes the private investor principle, and when Ryanair appeals the
decision to the European Court of First Instance (in early May), this
principle will form the core of our appeal.
"However, the good news today for Belgian consumers/visitors is that
thanks to this agreement between Ryanair, Brussels Charleroi Airport and
the Walloon Authorities, our low fare routes will continue from Brussels
Charleroi and we look forward to carrying millions of passengers each
year and saving them over EUR1.5 billion euros annually over the high
fare alternatives being offered by the rip-off airlines at Brussels
Zaventem Airport. The present merger negotiations between the two high
fares airlines, SN Brussels and Virgin Express, show just how badly the
Belgian market needs Ryanair in Brussels Charleroi since we provide
competition, choice and low fare air travel for ordinary consumers".
ENDS. Tuesday, 13th April 2004
For reference:
Pauline McAlester Paul Fitzsimmons
Murray Consultants Ryanair
Tel: +353 1 4980300 Tel: +353 1 8121212
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: 13 April 2004
By:___/s/ Howard Millar____
H Millar
Company Secretary & Finance Director