Ryanair demands end to 'regulated' Canaries flights
Low-cost airline Ryanair has called on the Spanish government to end the public service status of flights between the Canaries and allow proper competition on the routes.
The Irish airline says the system, under which a minimum of flights must be operated by the company currently receiving a big subsidy in return for guaranteed connections, is a waste of taxpayers' money and should be scrapped. "If the routes were opened up to competitors, Binter would be forced to cut its fares and the government would save the 180 million euro annual subsidy, which only goes to protect Binter's monopoly" said a spokesman. Ryanair adds that the money should be used to cut landing charges at airports to attract other airlines.