The EU’s antitrust enforcer has demanded that Ryanair return €8.5 million (US$9.5 million) paid to the low-cost carrier in the form of illegal aid granted to the carrier at Montpellier Airport.
The aid was paid by the French Promotion of Touristic Economic Flows (APFTE) between 2010 and 2017 to Ryanair and its subsidiary AMS for promoting Montpellier and its surrounding area on the carrier’s website.
The European commission began its investigation into the payments subsequent to a complaint lodged by a rival airline. Ryanair served the airport in the south of France until April 2019.
