Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has written to the EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager and has also contacted the EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc regarding Ryanair's unilateral decision to suspend the London Gatwick service from Belfast International Airport. He has asked them to urgently review Ryanair's decision and take whatever action is deemed necessary to protect the Belfast Gatwick service given that Ryanair were granted the Gatwick landing slots by the European Commission.
Jim Nicholson's party colleague Lord Empey has also written to the UK Under Secretary of State for Transport Lord Callanan to make him aware of the situation. The text of Jim Nicholson's letter to the EU Competition Commissioner is below.
STARTS
Ms. Margrethe Vestager,
European Commissioner for Competition,
European Commission,
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200,
1049 Brussels,
Belgium.
2nd October 2017
Dear Commissioner Vestager,
I write to you regarding Ryanair's recent announcement that it is suspending its service between Belfast International Airport and London Gatwick between November 2017 and March 2018. This was one of 34 routes suspended by Ryanair.
The Belfast to London Gatwick route is of critical importance to Northern Ireland's infrastructure so I ask that you look at this situation as a matter of urgency. Our travel links which connect us to the rest of the United Kingdom and Europe should not be suspended on the whim of a private airline.
Given that Ryanair have unilaterally announced a suspension of this route, I ask that the European Commission urgently reviews this situation. It was the European Commission which sanctioned the IAG takeover of Aer Lingus in 2015 but on the basis that IAG surrendered five daily take-off and landing slots at London Gatwick.
It is my understanding that it was stipulated at the time that one of those five daily take-off and landing slots at London Gatwick should be operated between Belfast and Gatwick, and the European Commission oversaw which airline got control of the slots.
Is the European Commission aware of the impact that this decision is having and what steps will the European Commission take to protect the Belfast to Gatwick service? To provide reassurance I would be grateful if the Commission could confirm that Ryanair will not be allowed to reallocate the Belfast Gatwick slot to another airport of departure.
It is absolutely vital that Northern Ireland retains this link. Its loss would have a direct impact on economic activity in Northern Ireland so I ask that the European Commission take whatever action is deemed necessary to maintain this route.
Should you require any more information, please do not hesitate to contact my office.
Yours sincerely,
Jim Nicholson MEP
ENDS