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 June, 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 WELCOMES LEGISLATION TO BREAK UP AER RIANTA MONOPOLY
Ryanair, Europe's largest low fares airline this afternoon (Tuesday, 22nd June
2004) welcomed the publication of the State Airports Bill 2004 which will lead
to the break up of the Aer Rianta airport monopoly and allow some limited
competition between Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports. Competition, even in this
limited form is to be welcomed and Ryanair believes that Cork and Shannon will
grow strongly now that they are free from the dead hand of Dublin Airport.
Welcoming this legislation today, Ryanair's Chief Executive, Michael O'Leary
said:
"No one in Irish tourism should feel any regret at getting rid of the Aer
Rianta monopoly or the Board that has run it so badly for the last 10 years.
The present Board of Aer Rianta has proved an abject failure. Despite their
doubling of airport charges, profits have collapsed from almost EUR40m in
1994 to just EUR20m in 2003. They have missed out on the tourism explosion
delivered by low fares airlines in Europe. They have been wildly profligate
wasting hundreds of millions of pounds on facilities that the airlines
didn't want and customers don't use at Dublin and Cork airports. They are
responsible for third rate, third world airport facilities, ridiculous
queues and car parks that are miles away from the terminal building. They
have delivered a regime at Dublin Airport, which the Aviation Regulator
previously confirmed was "50% more inefficient than the best of its peers".
It's major contribution to Shannon has been to pollute the estuary for many
years with raw sewage. This is also a Board which stood idly by and failed
to implement its own contingency plan, while Ireland's main international
airport was closed on two separate occasions earlier this year.
However no one should be under any illusion that this legislation will be
enough on its own to kick start Irish tourism. What we badly need is
competing, independent terminals at Dublin Airport and we call on the
Government to urgently implement the development of second and third
competing terminals at Dublin. The Government received 13 separate
expressions of interest for competing terminals as far back as 31 October
2002. Almost 2 years have elapsed without progress and it is important that
the new Dublin Airport Authority proceeds to implement this key commitment
in the present Coalition's programme for Government.
"A second (and third) competing terminals at Dublin Airport will kick start
a revolution in Irish tourism and will create a minimum of 5,000 new jobs at
Irish airports. If a low cost terminal is built, Ryanair will base another
10 new aircraft here in Dublin, will open up a range of new low fare routes
from Europe back into Ireland and will deliver an additional 5 million
passengers annually for Irish tourism and employment.
"Ryanair welcomes the publication of this legislation today, we welcome the
demise of the failed and discredited Board of the Aer Rianta airport
monopoly. We call on the Government to proceed urgently with the development
of competing independent terminals at Dublin so that Irish consumers and
Irish tourism can look forward to low cost, efficient airport facilities and
an end to the era of third world, third rate facilities that this Aer Rianta
monopoly has inflicted upon Irish tourism for the past 10 years."
Ends. Tuesday, 22nd June 2004
For further information
please contact:Paul Fitzsimmons Pauline McAlester
Ryanair Murray Consultants
Tel. 353-1-8121212 Tel. 353-1-4980300
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: 22 June 2004
By:___/s/ Howard Millar____
H Millar
Company Secretary & Finance Director