New Route Expansion for Summer 2000
Ryanair Holdings PLC
15 February 2000
RYANAIR LAUNCHES EIGHT NEW ROUTES
TO FRANCE, ITALY, GERMANY, SWEDEN
Ryanair, Europe's largest low fares airline today (Tuesday, 15th February
2000) announced a massive programme of new route expansion for Summer 2000, on
the back of record passenger numbers in 1999 for the low fares carrier.
In May and June 2000, Ryanair will take delivery of a further five new Boeing
737-800 series aircraft, bringing the airlines fleet to 31 jet aircraft.
These aircraft will be allocated to the launch of eight new European routes,
seven from London Stansted and one from Glasgow Prestwick as follows;
Start Lowest Mid-Week Economy Fare
Date Ryanair B.Airways/Other
London
Stansted to HAMBURG 2 x Daily 01/06 89 595
MALMO 2 x Daily 01/07 99 356
NIMES 2 x Daily 01/06 89 502
PERPIGNAN 1 x Daily 01/06 89 502
BRESCIA 2 x Daily 01/07 69 492
LAMEZIA 1 x Daily 01/07 129 734
SARDINIA 1 x Daily 01/07 129 564
Glasgow
Prestwick to FRANKFURT 1 x Daily 26/03 79 643
Ryanair's fares offer savings of up to 70% over the lowest midweek return
economy air fares currently offered by British Airways and other high fare
airlines on these routes. Ryanair is now Britain's second largest
international airline after BA, and will, with these new aircraft and routes,
carry in excess of 7 million passengers to and from the UK over the
coming 12 month period.
Launching this largest ever new route programme today in London, Ryanair's
Chief Executive, Michael O'Leary said:
'These eight new routes, and our unique low fare services offer the UK
consumer, and potential visitors to the UK unbeatable travel value. At a time
when British Airways are executing their strategy of carrying fewer non
premium passengers, reducing their capacity on short-haul European markets,
and attempting where possible to increase air fares, Ryanair is now
increasingly the carrier of choice with both economy and business passengers
to and from the UK. Over the last number of years our traffic has increased by
over 1 million passengers each year, as British Airways' high fares continue
to turn people away.
'The need for a strong and successful low fares carrier - like Ryanair,
in the UK has never been more vital. In an attempt to restrict the amount of
low fares available, British Airways subsidiary GO has recently introduced
Saturday night stay restrictions on all its cheaper fares, effectively
removing it from the low fares market.
'This major new expansion programme will involve an investment of over
$200 million, in new aircraft, and the creation of over 250 new, highly paid,
jobs in Stansted and Glasgow. Our fourth new route from Glasgow now
establishes Glasgow Prestwick as Ryanair's third main base, and Ryanair now
offers more international destinations direct from Glasgow than any other
airline. This year Ryanair will also be increasing its capacity on the
Glasgow-London Stansted route to ensure that Scottish consumers do not suffer
higher fares following the withdrawal of KLM UK from the route.
'Ryanair and our low fares are here to stay. The strategy of British
Airways and others to reduce capacity, turn away ordinary travellers, and
increase air fares will fail. Competition will ensure that the cost of air
travel to and from the UK continues to fall, and Ryanair will continue to be
the leader of the fast growth low fares market to and from the UK.'
Full details of all these eight new routes, and the special introductory
launch fares are available on Europe's largest low fares website at
www.RYANAIR.COM.
For further information please
Contact: www.RYANAIR.COM
Michael O'Leary, Ryanair
Tel. 0831-639043
Tim Jeans, Ryanair
Tel. 07979-593646
Russell Stenhouse, Millennium PR
Tel. 0385-380625
Miranda Leslau, Millennium PR
Tel. 0385-461747
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