Gatwick sues Ryanair for £1.2m in row over check-in fees
Michael Herman
Gatwick Airport is suing Ryanair, the low-cost airline, for £1.2 million in a dispute over check-in fees.
The lawsuit, filed in the High Court in London, relates to fees that Gatwick charges airlines for using check-in desks at the airport.
Gatwick claims that Ryanair has refused to pay the full amount owed in 342 invoices issued since the airport changed its pricing structure in 2004.
The lawsuit says that Ryanair has paid some fees but owes Gatwick £1.2 million, which the airport is demanding as well as interest and undisclosed damages for breach of contract.
The dispute relates to changes made in 2004 when Gatwick switched to charging airlines per passenger checked in, replacing a system whereby airlines rented check-in desks by the hour.
A spokesman for Gatwick said: “We consulted with around 100 airlines that use Gatwick and everyone but Ryanair accepted the changes.”
Ryanair was still paying according to the previous system, the spokesman said, adding that the airport had tried to negotiate with the Dublin-based airline before turning to litigation.
Ryanair said: “We rejected Gatwick’s claims as more monopoly rubbish. There was no justification for Gatwick’s threefold increase in check-in desks in 2004, and Ryanair looks forward to exposing Gatwick’s latest monopoly rip off in Court.”
The legal action is the second filed against Ryanair relating to airport fee increases in less than a year. In July BAA, the owner of several large UK airports, sued the carrier over its refusal to pay a 7 per cent increase in landing fees at its airports.
(Times)
Michael Herman
Gatwick Airport is suing Ryanair, the low-cost airline, for £1.2 million in a dispute over check-in fees.
The lawsuit, filed in the High Court in London, relates to fees that Gatwick charges airlines for using check-in desks at the airport.
Gatwick claims that Ryanair has refused to pay the full amount owed in 342 invoices issued since the airport changed its pricing structure in 2004.
The lawsuit says that Ryanair has paid some fees but owes Gatwick £1.2 million, which the airport is demanding as well as interest and undisclosed damages for breach of contract.
The dispute relates to changes made in 2004 when Gatwick switched to charging airlines per passenger checked in, replacing a system whereby airlines rented check-in desks by the hour.
A spokesman for Gatwick said: “We consulted with around 100 airlines that use Gatwick and everyone but Ryanair accepted the changes.”
Ryanair was still paying according to the previous system, the spokesman said, adding that the airport had tried to negotiate with the Dublin-based airline before turning to litigation.
Ryanair said: “We rejected Gatwick’s claims as more monopoly rubbish. There was no justification for Gatwick’s threefold increase in check-in desks in 2004, and Ryanair looks forward to exposing Gatwick’s latest monopoly rip off in Court.”
The legal action is the second filed against Ryanair relating to airport fee increases in less than a year. In July BAA, the owner of several large UK airports, sued the carrier over its refusal to pay a 7 per cent increase in landing fees at its airports.
(Times)
