Easyjet has big plans for Germany

The no-frills UK carrier said it would introduce eight routes from Dortmund, starting at the end of May 2004.

Easyjet, which is relatively new to the German market, said it saw great potential at Dortmund.

The government-owned airport serves as a gateway to the wealthy Rhine/Ruhr region, which includes the cities of Essen and Duesseldorf.

Under the terms of its deal to operate from Dortmund, Easyjet said it had not negotiated special discounts with authorities at the airport.

Rival setback

A spokeswoman for the Luton-based firm said: "All the details have been looked at by the European Commission and they are happy with things. We don't receive subsidies like Ryanair at Charleroi airport."

Earlier this month, the European Commission ruled the discounts that rival airline Ryanair had received from Belgium's Charleroi airport amounted to an illegal subsidy.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary rounded on the Commission, saying its decision would have serious ramifications for Europe's budget airline industry.

"We consider this decision to be a disaster for consumers, and for low-cost air fares all over Europe," he said.

However, other airlines said the ruling related more specifically to Ryanair and its dealings with airports, and would not threaten their own positions.