Impact of Volcanic Ash Flight

RNS Number : 4981K

Ryanair Holdings PLC

20 April 2010

 



IMPACT OF VOLCANIC ASH

FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS ON RYANAIR

Ryanair, today (Tue 20 April 2010) confirmed that its Southbound flights from Spain, Italy, Malta and Morocco continue to operate normally.  Ryanair also announced that its flight cancellations in Northern Europe have been extended from 1300hrs on Wed 21 April to 1300hrs on Thur 22 April, when (on the basis of improved meteorological forecasts) and more accurate analysis of the volcanic ash over Continental Europe, Ryanair hopes to resume a substantial proportion (but not all) of its flight operations across Continental Europe. 

Ryanair also announced that it would cancel all of its flights between Ireland and the UK until 13.00hrs on Fri 23 April, to allow the airline operate extra flights on Thurs and Fri between the UK and Continental Europe, and between Ireland and Continental Europe, to clear any backlog of disrupted passengers.  Ryanair's decision to cancel its flights between Ireland and the UK was taken in the knowledge that the significant ferry capacity which operates between Ireland and the UK can continue to accommodate large volumes of passengers, albeit with significant delays. 

Ryanair's current best estimate is that its normal flight operations will resume from approx. 1300hrs on Friday 23^rd April.  Ryanair has notified all of its airport handling agents of revised handling procedures (incl. suspending airport check-in fees and baggage fees) for a number of days until the backlog of disrupted passengers has been cleared, either on Ryanair's scheduled flights or the large number of extra flights which Ryanair plans to operate.  Similarly, while we will consider all passenger requests for reimbursement of reasonable receipted expenses, any such reimbursement by Ryanair will be limited to a maximum of the original air fare paid.

Ryanair today confirmed that the financial impact of these disruptions was not an immediate concern.  Providing passengers with information and reroutings currently takes priority over profits.  Ryanair expects its net profit for the year end 31 March 2011 to be impacted by approx. €6m per day over the seven days of these substantial disruptions between Thurs 15 April to Wed 22 April.  Obviously this figure will vary depending on how long these disruptions persist, the number of flights which Ryanair is able to operate following resumption of schedules, how quickly the backlogs can be cleared, and when load factors return to normal.  Ryanair will provide an analysis of the likely total cost of these disruptions in its full year results announcement on June 1 next.

Ends.                                        Tuesday, 20^th April 2010

For further information

please contact:                       Stephen McNamara              Pauline McAlester

                                                Ryanair Ltd                            Murray Consultants

                                                Tel: [phone]              Tel. [phone]

 

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