Ryanair’s bid to acquire a majority stake in Austrian airline, which was founded by F1 legend Niki Lauda, was last week approved by the EU Commission.
However, Ryanair said the launch of Laudamotion had been threatened by Lufthansa, which it alleged was trying to retain aircraft with was obliged by the European Commission to provide the fledgling carrier on competition grounds.
It further accused Lufthansa of failing to deliver two of the 11 aircraft required by the commission following Lufthansa’s acquisition of Air Berlin and delaying others until after the summer 2018 season, reducing Laudamotion’s ability to take up slots.
Earlier this year, Laudamotion took over insolvent airline Niki, acquiring its aircraft with a view to launching commercial operations in summer 2018. Lufthansa’s move for Niki was blocked by the commission.
“Lufthansa has fully complied with all EU Commission obligations regarding the required transfer of aircraft to Laudamotion,” said the airline in a statement. “This is true of both the number of aircraft involved and their leasing terms.
“All the aircraft covered by the EU derogation decision were offered for sale to Laudamotion by Lufthansa. Laudamotion rejected this offer, preferring to lease the aircraft instead. Laudamotion has recently failed – repeatedly – to meet its contractually-agreed lease payment obligations.
“As the Eurowings Group needs aircraft, Lufthansa has exercised its contractually-agreed right of termination because of a violation of contractual terms by Laudamotion, and has terminated the lease agreements on nine aircraft due to the non-payment of the lease amounts involved.”
Ryanair though has further lambasted Lufthansa, insisting by Friday (July 13) it had still only delivered nine of the 11 aircraft it is required by the commission to transfer to Laudamotion, adding the German carrier had used “every tactic in the book to harm and damage Laudamotion”.
“One of the aircraft, which was supposed to be delivered ‘at the beginning’ of June, has now been delayed until at least the end of August, which means Laudamotion has lost the benefit of this aircraft (and its slots) during the peak summer months,” said the budget carrier in a statement.
“Laudamotion has repeatedly honoured both its aircraft lease payments and maintenance reserves to Lufthanand May, Lufthansa has attempted to terminate all 9 aircraft leases on unfounded legal grounds, even though lease rentals for the full month of July had already been paid at the end of June.”
