Ryanair has asked the High Court to continue an order restraining Aer Rianta from imposing on it new ground-handling charges and rules of conduct governing ground-handling operations at Dublin Airport. The charges and rules have applied to 116 airline operators using the airport from January 1st.
Aer Rianta claims it, like any other commercial trading company, is entitled to charge for its services and it says ministerial approval is not required for the new charges because these were commercial charges, not airport charges. It denied the charges and rules are unfair or in excess of its powers and says the rules are necessary to ensure the safe and effective management of ground-handling operations.
Even in the short term, the suspension of the rules and charges would threaten severe logistical problems on the ground, with consequent safety risks, and would impair the entitlement of Aer Rianta to revenue from airport users, it said. If Ryanair wished to use the services, it had to pay for them like everyone else. On December 22nd, Ryanair secured leave to challenge the charges and rules in judicial review proceedings. It also secured an interim order preventing the proposed measures being implemented. That interim order was later varied to relate only to Ryanair.
Mr Gerard Hogan SC, for Ryanair, yesterday asked Mr Justice Kelly to continue the order pending the outcome of the judicial review proceedings. He argued the new charges and rules would substantially increase costs for Ryanair, which prided itself on being a low-cost operation. The hearing continues today.