Air France and Ryanair have clashed over subsidies after the French carrier accused its budget rival of putting pressure on regional authorities to give unfair support as the price of using their airports.

Air France said it had complained to the European Commission about what it described as “open-ended subsidies” in the form of discounts, preferential treatment and marketing help from regional airports.

“We pay no attention to false claims from high-fares, fuel- surcharging airlines like Air France,” a Ryanair spokesman said. “They can’t compete with Ryanair so they complain instead.” – (Reuters)