Aer Rianta yesterday applied to the High Court for judgment for £356,000 plus interest against Ryanair. It claims this is due for unpaid landing charges and passenger fees at Dublin Airport in 1997 and 1988 on Dublin-Paris and Dublin-Brussels routes.
In an affidavit Mr Brian Hampson, secretary to Aer Rianta, said Ryanair had been given big discounts on the routes but claimed to be entitled to further discounts and had withheld payment of £356,777.
Aer Rianta assistant chief executive, Mr Brian Byrne, said in an affidavit that all the discount schemes were available to all carriers on the same terms. Ryanair had a track record of being in dispute and late making payments.
Ryanair chief executive, Mr Michael O'Leary, denied the company owed the money claimed. Aer Rianta said Ryanair did not pay its debts, he said in an affidavit. That was untrue. It always paid what was lawfully due to Aer Rianta.
Mr O'Leary said Ryanair would not have started the Paris and Brussels routes in 1997 had Aer Rianta not agreed to vary a growth discount scheme. There had been an oral agreement to vary the scheme and Aer Rianta was wrongfully demanding the sums claimed.
The hearing continues today.