Ryanair exit slashes Strasbourg traffic

STRASBOURG, Jan 9 (AFP) – International passenger traffic at Strasbourg-Entzheim airport has plunged following the departure of low-cost carrier Ryanair in September, the area’s chamber of commerce reported Friday.

It said such traffic was down 43.9 percent in December compared with the same month of 2002.But for the full year overall passenger traffic rose 2.3 percent, largely reflecting a 28.5 percent hike in the number of international travellers to 381,100.

The number of domestic passengers declined 2.4 percent to 1.656,942 from 2002.

Ryanair halted service to Strasbourg following a court ruling in July – upheld in December – that financial assistance provided the airline by the regional chamber of commerce amounted to an illegal subsidy.

© AFP

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