Aeronautics: showdown between Ryanair and the Hungarian government
Ryan air, which does not intend to let it go, says it is ready to file a complaint with European justice.
AFP/File
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2 mins
The low-cost company, whose thirty planes land in Budapest every day, was fined 875,000 euros on Monday August 8.
The Hungarian government accuses him of having deceived consumers.
The origin of this dispute is the new tax on "super profits" imposed on large companies by Viktor Orban, which came into force on July 1st.
But not only the CEO of Ryanair disputes this new tax, but he sent a volley of green wood to the Hungarian government.
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With our correspondent in Budapest,
Florence La Bruyère
10 euros per passenger for short flights, and 24 euros for long haul flights, is the new tax that airline companies landing in Budapest must pay.
The new tax also affects large retailers, insurance companies, and telecom operators.
A tax made necessary by the war in Ukraine and rising prices, according to the Hungarian Prime Minister.
It is a question of taxing “
the extraordinary profits of these companies which profit from a situation of war
” (…) “
Hungary must stay out of this war and protect the financial security of its families
”, had declared Viktor Orban on Facebook last May when it announced the tax.
But Ryanair is the only company to be fined heavily.
The company increased the price of its plane tickets before the entry into force of the new tax.
The CEO of the Irish company, the fiery Michael O'Leary, harshly criticized the Hungarian government, deeming the tax on non-existent profits absurd.
Because during the pandemic, airlines lost a lot of money.
“
The Hungarian Minister of Economy is completely stupid, I will send him a copy of the book “Economics for Dummies
” declared the Irish businessman, during the announcement of the new tax.
Response from the person concerned: "
If only Ryanair reacted so quickly when its customers file a complaint
..."
Ryanair, which does not intend to let it go, says it is ready to file a complaint with European justice.
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Hungary
Victor Orban
Aeronautics
Transportation