Ryanair is to maintain its operations at Belgium's Charleroi airport despite a European Commission ruling against it over illegal subsidies there, the regional government was reported as saying.
Cited by the Belganews agency, local Wallonia economy minister Mr Serge Kubla said he had signed an accord with Ryanair boss Mr Michael O'Leary in Dublin guaranteeing that the low-cost pioneer would stay at Charleroi.
The deal, for a "transition period," would allow Ryanair to pay exactly the same costs as it had before the February ruling the European Commission, which ordered the Irish airline to reimburse some money it had received.
The terms of the deal would last "between a few months and a maximum of about a year," said Mr Kubla.
The Walloon minister said the deal was in line with the commission ruling, which found that Ryanair had benefitted unfairly from secret clauses in its contract with the Wallonia regional government, which owns Charleroi.
The European Commission ordered the airline to repay millions of euros it received due to the contract, which enabled it to receive steep discounts on landing fees and ground-handling charges, as well as help marketing and training costs.
Ryanair is appealing against the Commission's decision in the European Court in Luxembourg.
Ryanair said after the February ruling that it would close its route from London to Charleroi on April 29th, but said it was ready to negotiate a new deal with airport and regional authorities allowing it to keep its costs low.
AFP