Ryanair has announced it is to reduce the frequency of its Shannon — London route to 2 flights per day as a direct result of a 45 per cent increase in passenger service charges implemented by Aer Rianta.
The increase in charges will come into effect on January 1st, 2004.
Ryanair, which currently operates four daily services from Shannon to London Stansted, will reduce its frequency to two flights per day from 8th January 2004.
"The Aer Rianta monopoly is again doing what monopolies do best — increasing charging on a whim, with no regard for its customers or consumers," Ryanair's Head of Communications, Mr Paul Fitzsimmons said.
"Aer Rianta sky-high cost increases amount to monopoly abuse, driving up costs, driving away business."
Mr Fitzsimmons urged the government to speed-up the process of breaking up Aer Rianta to engender competition in the Irish market.