Ryanair News
Ryanair hints at Airbus order
Airbus could be poised to gain a major coup again its arch rival Boeing after Ryanair suggested it is considering switching to European aircraft manufacturer for its next order. The low-cost carrier said it was considering ordering up to 300 aircraft, and that it would be foolish to disregard Airbus’s A320 aircraft, which could cut fuel bills by as much as 15 per cent.
Airlines prepare ahead of Spanish strike
Airlines across Europe are preparing for severe disruption tomorrow as transport unions join a general strike in Spain. Air traffic controllers are among those expected to join picket lines as prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero seeks to implement an austerity budget.
The future of budget travel?
Ryanair could be close to fulfilling its dream of squeezing even more passengers onto its planes with the unveiling of a new “standing seat”. The “SkyRider” from Italian designer Aviointeriors provides just 23 inches of legroom, and is a cross between riding horseback and a standing seat found in McDonalds.
O’Leary brands climate change as “horse *#*!”
In the same week that he called for replacing co-pilots with air stewardesses, Ryanair boss Micheal O’Leary has sparked further controversy by denying the existence of man-made climate change. The controversial millionaire said the idea that man-made pollution is heating up the planet is “horse *#*!”.
easyJet and Ryanair enjoy buoyant summer traffic
The strength of the low-cost model in adversity has been proved again this summer as Ryanair and easyJet both posted buoyant traffic. The budget heavyweights collectively sold 12.88m seats in August, a rise of 10.5 percent year-on-year. Ryanair gained further market share by growing 12 percent against easyJet’s 8.4 percent rise.
O’Leary calls for cabin crew to land planes in emergency
Calls from Michael O’Leary to replace the second pilot on flights with an air stewardess have been branded as “crazy” and “dangerous” by pilots. In his latest cost-saving scheme, the Ryanair boss has suggested cabin crew could be trained to take the controls and land the plane in an emergency.
Ryanair opens new Spanish base
Ryanair has officially opened its latest Spanish base at Barcelona El Prat, where it will initially base eight aircraft at El Prat operating 23 routes and an expected 2.5 million passenger per annum, which will help reverse declining traffic at El Prat airport which fell by 3m passengers in 2009.
Ryanair ditches Belfast base
Ryanair is pulling all services from Belfast City Airport from 31 October, citing the failure of a promised runway extension to materialise.
Travelsupermarket.com comments on Ryanair Q1 results
Commenting on the announcement that Ryanair’s Q1 profits are up by one per cent, Bob Atkinson, travel expert at www.travelsupermarket.com, said:
Ryanair profits hit by ash cloud
Ryanair has suffered a 24 percent slump in profits after losing €50m of business due to Iceland’s volcanic ash cloud. However Europe’s largest low-cost carrier vowed to continue expanding across the continent, where it sees the potential for most growth.
Ryanair apologies to Stelios for “Pinocchio” ads
easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou has accepted undisclosed libel damages over advertisements by Ryanair that accused him of lying. The Irish carrier ran adverts depicting Stelios as Pinocchio, suggesting he was lying about easyJet’s punctuality.
Ryanair reprimanded over “misleading” ads
Ryanair has received another ticking off from the Advertising Standard Authority for advertising fares with a number of hidden charges. The complaint was lodged by its arch rival easyJet.