A press release states that the Commission has received complaints about favouritism towards the Irish low-cost airline. It does not mention who is behind these allegations.

However, after a preliminary assessment, the Commission has chosen to proceed with a more in-depth investigation, it says.

”"We will investigate whether regional and local authorities in Germany, acting against the rules, gave Ryanair unfair advantages over competitors, which could potentially have harmed other airlines and had spillover effects on other regions in Europe," said EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager.

The focus of the investigation will include market agreements entered into with the airport operator before the state of Rhineland-Palatinate took over as owner in 2009. The Commission will also look at other arrangements of a financial nature between Ryanair and the airport.

Frankfurt-Hahn Airport is operated by Flughafengesellschaft Frankfurt-Hahn GmbH. Since March 1, 2017, the new owner of the business is the Chinese HNA Group.

Source: finwire