Ryanair has complained to the European Commission about the Belgian government's decision to arrange a bridging loan for its in-trouble Sabena national carrier.
The airline is to get enough cash from its government to keep it flying for a month, and negotiations about the nature of the financing, which is expected to total close on IR£100 million, are going on with the EC.
The intervention followed a move by Sabena to file for bankruptcy protection after the collapse earlier this week of one of its co-owners, the Swiss airliner Swissair.
A spokesman for Ryanair, whose chief executive Mr Michael O'Leary is a firm opponent of national airlines receiving government assistance, said the complaint had been lodged with the commission and his company was seeking advice on where to initiate legal proceedings in Europe.
He maintained: "The financing move is entirely unjustified and it's unfair that Sabena should receive funding from the Belgian government when all other airlines are struggling to make ends meet."
The Ryanair spokesman claimed Sabena has only once turned over a profit in its 40-year history and has been a constant drain on the pockets of the Belgian taxpayers.
"It can't continue and we intend to take action in Europe."