Sir, - Aer Rianta's claim (June 10th) that their charges are amongst the lowest in Europe is similar to the line pedalled by the Aer Lingus monopoly in early 1980 (along the lines) that its then fares, on a seat mile basis, were "low by European standards". As history subsequently proved, air fares have more than halved thanks to Ryanair's success in breaking the Aer Lingus monopoly.
Dublin Airport is the most expensive of all the 26 airports at which Ryanair operates. Sir Michael Bishop of British Midland is also on record as confirming that Dublin Airport's charges are excessive. Aer Rianta's recently published accounts confirm just how profitable the Dublin Airport monopoly is. Remove the contribution from Dublin Airport, and the £42 million profit becomes a loss!
The key question for Government, the consumer, and our tourism industry is whether the existing charges are likely to rise or fall if there is a continuation of Aer Rianta's monopoly? Aer Rianta are already on record as confirming that charges will rise if duty free disappears in 1999. This is the behaviour of a monopoly. If duty free goes, both costs and charges must be reduced. Our tourism industry, and our economy are critically dependent upon low access fares. For these benefits to be maintained we need continued competition between the airlines - Ryanair can guarantee that - but we also must have an end to the Aer Rianta monopoly at Dublin Airport.
Competition will improve services and reduce airport charges. It will be good for Aer Rianta just as it has been for Aer Lingus, and more recently Telecom. The continuation of Aer Rianta's monopoly will do the opposite. Their behaviour in currently objecting to the McEvaddy proposal for the second terminal, and the Ryanair scheme, is typical of the self-serving attitude of a monopoly. I restate my original thesis; will anyone benefit from this continued monopoly? - Yours, etc., Michael O'Leary, Chief Executive,
Ryanair, Dublin Airport, Co. Dublin.