Ryanair to sue Cornwall County Council

Ryanair is to sue Cornwall County Council in the UK over the closure of Newquay Airport. The airport is owned by Cornwall County Council who were due to take over the operation of the airport from the RAF on December 1 2008. As part of the hand over the council had to resurface the runway, build a new control tower and improve security measures at the airport. The airport was forced to shut on December 1 after the council, which owns the civilian airport, had been due to take over the adjacent RAF St Mawgan site. As the RAF had previously handled air traffic, this would have meant the council obtaining a licence from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). However, as the air traffic control tower was not ready, the CAA refused to grant a licence. The airport re-opened for business on December 20, after the works were completed. Under the circumstances which prevailed at the end of November, Ryanair cancelled it's flights from the airport until March 2009. The airline is reportedly working out the damages it will pursue as a result of 7,000 passengers having their flights cancelled at short notice. The damages will include a figure for damage to the airline's reputation. It is understood that two other operators at the airport Air Southwest and Skybus who operate to the Scilly Isles are also to seek damages.