16/10/2008

Ryanair Call For OFT Investigation Into Fuel Price Rises

Budget airline Ryanair has called on the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to launch a probe into the rise in aviation fuel prices at Belfast City and Glasgow Prestwick Airport. Ryanair said Air BP, which has a "complete monopoly" on the fuel at the airport, has not explained price rises over ten times the rate of inflation.

Jim Callaghan, Ryanair's Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs said: "Air BP has a complete monopoly on the supply of aviation fuel at these airports and is abusing this position to unilaterally impose over 50% cost increases (over 10 times the rate of inflation).

"This abuse comes at a time when BP and the other oil majors are making billion pound profits at the expense of the aviation industry, which is currently in crisis."

Air BP said prices are agreed by mutual negotiation and "must reflect current market and cost environments".

Ryanair said it has repeatedly written Air BP asking for an explanation for the price rises but claimed Air BP had "refused to provide any valid justification".

The fuel provider said it was confident that it had not breached any competition laws and was surprised by Ryanair's decision to contact the OFT.

(GK/JM)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

05 August 2011
E.ON Increase Prices
E.ON has today announced that it will increase its prices by 11.4% for electricity and 18.1% for gas, with dual fuel customers seeing a rise of 15.2%, effective from 13th September.
24 June 2005
British Airways announces ticket price rises
British Airways (BA) has announced an increase in fuel surcharge on ticket prices, due to increasing oil price rises. The longhaul fuel surcharge will increase to £48 per return trip, while the surcharge for shorthaul flights will rise to £16 for a return trip, for all tickets purchased from June 27.
22 February 2013
Fuel Shortage Fears As BP Tanker Strike Begins
A potential BP fuel shortage is feared as 40 of the company’s tanker drivers begin a three-day strike over a pension and pay dispute. The drivers, based at the Grangemouth oil refinery west of Edinburgh, are in dispute after BP transferred 15 drivers who specialise in supplying aviation fuel to airports to work for the delivery firm DHL.
03 June 2008
Ryanair Fares To Stay Low Despite Soaring Fuel Costs
Ryanair is planning to ground up to 10% of his fleet this winter in a move to counter crippling airport charges. The budget airline saw full year after-tax net profits rise by 10% - other reports have cited 20% - to £381 million. However, the doubling of landing and handling charges by operator BAA still requires the carrier to cut costs.
12 November 2012
MPs To Vote On Fuel Rise Delay
MPs will vote on Monday evening on plans to increase fuel duty by 3 pence a litre in January. Labour have said "it would be wrong" to bring the new rise in s soon an want it delayed until at least April. Conservative MPs concerned about the cost of petrol said they believed Chancellor George Osborne was "in listening mode" over the issue.