However, Carla Bruni says she wants 500,000 euros ($743,000; £373,000) from Ryanair and that that is the amount she would normally charge for such a photograph, but French President Nicolas Sarkozy is only seeking a symbolic one euro in damages.
The lawyer on behalf of Carla Bruni, Thierry Herzog, is reported as saying that "the average cost for using her image for visual advertising on French territory was in the region of 500,000 euros".
Ryanair has issued an apology to President Nicolas Sarkozy, 53, and Carla Bruni, 40, for using their image without consent, but the airline claim they meant no offence to the couple.
President Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni are suing Ryanair separately and the two cases are both due to be heard in a Paris court on Thursday.
