11/03/2010 (Agence Europe) - French Airline Air France announced on Thursday 11 March that, at the end of 2009, it had complained to the European Commission about its low-cost competitor Ryanair over public aid which it believes do not comply with European rules. Air France cites the fact that Ryanair makes its use of an airport conditional on its receiving aid from the public corporations operating the airport. French daily Le Figaro quoted an Air France estimate that this aid could amount to €660 million across Europe in 2008, with €35 million in France, in the form of start-up aid, rebates on assistance in airports and on airport taxes. Over the years, the Commission has opened a number of investigations into public aid received by Ryanair in return for serving airports, often regional and with low passenger traffic before its arrival. In 2008, the low-cost carrier won a major victory when a Commission decision requiring Ryanair to return aid received for using an airport in Belgium was overturned by the European court. (L.C./transl.rt)