Govt flight-price measure 'ridiculous, illegal' - Ryanair

(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 9 - Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson on Wednesday called for the measure the Italian government presented this week to combat high flight prices to be scrapped.
    "It's ridiculous, illegal and interferes with the free market, according to European law," Wilson told ANSA.
    "It must be cancelled.
    "If it isn't, there will be an impact on Ryanair's ability to operate in Italy".
    A decree approved by the cabinet on Monday clamps down on the use of algorithms to set flight prices.
    The government blamed the algorithms for soaring prices in recent months, especially for services connecting the mainland to Sicily and Sardinia The decree bans the algorithms if applied to connections to Sicily and Sardinia; if applied to peaks in demand linked to seasonal factors; and if they lead to the price of tickets or accessory services being 200% higher than the average price.
    Wilson added that Sicily Governor Renato Schifani's assertion that Ryanair was involved in a price cartel was "nothing but rubbish.
    "Ryanair has reached over 185 million passengers because we lowered prices and give them value," he said.
    "We don't need to talk to incompetent companies".
    Wilson had a meeting with Business and Made in Italy Minister Adolfo Urso earlier on Wednesday.
    "The Ryanair CEO presented the important development plans (the company) has for the country and the problems it faces," Urso said.
    "I am willing to meet other companies to see whether the measure can be improved during its conversion into law in parliament".
    (ANSA).