Ryanair has entered emergency talks with the Belgian government in a bid to try and safeguard its route to Brussels-Charleroi.
The Irish airline confirmed on Wednesday it had learned a draft report from the European Commission (EC) investigating the route was set to find large parts of the arrangements at Brussels unlawful.
While not having seen the full report, Ryanair confirmed that if the EC did rule against the route, it would immediately appeal.
Its chief executive, Michael O'Leary, admitted if the deal was not allowed to stand, the route faced closure.
But the Stansted-based carrier has also entered negotiations with the Belgian airport and the Walloon government to explore the possibility of the airport being privatised, and a similar deal being arranged to allow the route to continue.
Mr O'Leary called on the commission to find in favour of competition, adding: "Airports such as Charleroi have benefited from enormous traffic growth and are now profitable enterprises thanks to Ryanair."
Published Tuesday November 18, 2003
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