Ryanair Could Snap Up Boeing Jets Dropped by Lion Air, Norwegian

Ryanair Could Snap Up Boeing Jets Dropped by Lion Air, Norwegian

Ryanair Holdings Plc (RYA), which has no planes on order beyond 2012, expects to be able to snap up jets at short notice if required as rival carriers struggle to fund purchases, Chief Executive Officer Michael O’Leary said today.

EC denies Commission discriminates against Ryanair

EC denies Commission discriminates against Ryanair

The European Commission, EC, has refuted the allegations made by Michael O’ Leary that it discriminates against ‘low cost airlines’ and refuses to allow its officials to use Ryanair.

Ryanair loses EU legal case and accused of inflating traffic figures

Ryanair loses EU legal case and accused of inflating traffic figures

Ryanair has suffered a fresh setback in court, losing its legal challenge to a European Commission decision over payments to the former Alitalia by the Italian government.

Ryanair, Brussels Sock Each Other

Ryanair, Brussels Sock Each Other

Michael O’Leary, the voluble chief executive of Ryanair Holdings PLC, bashes Brussels and the European Commission at any chance available. Yet for some reason, a European Union conference organizer invited the Irish budget airline CEO to participate in a panel on innovation in December.

Carolyn McCall: In the pilot's seat at easyJet

Carolyn McCall: In the pilot's seat at easyJet

After nearly two years in charge, the budget airline's chief executive is used to dealing with headwinds, as Lucy Tobin discovers

Ryanair Loses EU Court Challenge Over Alitalia Rescue Loan

Ryanair Loses EU Court Challenge Over Alitalia Rescue Loan

Ryanair Holdings Plc (RYA) lost a court challenge that may have forced Alitalia SpA (AZA)’s owners to repay a 300 million-euro ($401 million) loan from the Italian government.

Brussels Airlines threatens to leave Belgium: report

Brussels Airlines threatens to leave Belgium: report

Brussels Airlines, Belgium's biggest carrier, threatened to relocate if the government did not offer tax breaks to help it compete against Ireland's low cost giant Ryanair, De Morgen daily reported on Wednesday.

Easyjet to trial giving allocated seats to passengers

Easyjet to trial giving allocated seats to passengers

Low-cost airline Easyjet says it will trial giving passengers boarding passes with allocated seat numbers.

Iberia Express launches as Europe’s latest salvo to bring short-haul model to profitability

Iberia Express launches as Europe’s latest salvo to bring short-haul model to profitability

New carrier Iberia Express has launched services despite its website not launching until later this week, and even then bookings will be accepted for travel only as early as 10-Apr-2012. The unusual arrangement is indicative of what Iberia Express is: a wholly-owned subsidiary of Iberia that will replace some of mainline Iberia’s short- and medium-haul routes. In its initial weeks it is taking over flights sold as Iberia, but passenger perceptions will be few; service is almost identical to Iberia – but with staff employed at market rates, drastically cutting costs.

Vueling opens its first permanent base at Rome-Fiumicino Airport

Vueling opens its first permanent base at Rome-Fiumicino Airport

Vueling commences services from a new permanent operating base in Rome starting on 25 March coinciding with the start of the new 2012 summer season, as announced at the airport of Rome-Fiumicino by the CEO of Vueling, Alex Cruz, and the Chief Executive Officer of Roma Airport (ADR), Lorenzo Lo Presti.

EasyJet CEO Sees Fuel Bill Up 220 Million Pounds

EasyJet CEO Sees Fuel Bill Up 220 Million Pounds

Carolyn McCall, chief executive officer of EasyJet Plc, talks about new routes from London's Southend Airport, the introduction of competitor Iberia Express and the impact of higher fuel costs. She speaks from Southend, England, with Linzie Janis on Bloomberg Television's "Countdown.".

EC reopens probe into Ryanair's Charleroi start up

EC reopens probe into Ryanair's Charleroi start up

Ryanair's tense relationship with the European Commission took another turn for the worse yesterday when anti-trust officials re-opened an investigation into allegedly illegal state aid payments to the low cost carrier.

Ryanair investigated over £10 charge for exit seats

Ryanair investigated over £10 charge for exit seats

Ryanair, the low-cost airline, is being investigated by an air safety watchdog over its policy of preventing passengers from sitting next to emergency exits unless they pay an extra £10.

Ryanair facing payout over passengers stranded by volcanic ash cloud

Ryanair facing payout over passengers stranded by volcanic ash cloud

Airline should have provided care to passengers stranded as a result of ash cloud from eruption of Eyjafjallajökull, says court

Ryanair fails in court bid for injunction against agent

Ryanair fails in court bid for injunction against agent

Ryanair lost its application for a High Court injunction against a Dublin travel agent on Friday after the judge described the carrier’s claims as “fanciful”.

BEST OF: A Crack at Ryanair’s CEO

BEST OF: A Crack at Ryanair’s CEO

Several weeks before my first Ryanair flight, Ryanair’s CEO Michael Kevin O’Leary lectured an upper-level Trinity College Dublin economics course. No, I’m not a student of economics — not even close. But the CEO’s infamous reputation — as well as the promise that three free flight vouchers would be awarded during the lecture — were enough to draw me in.

Ryanair, Etihad talk Aer Lingus stake

Ryanair, Etihad talk Aer Lingus stake

Etihad Airways could soon be a majority owner of Irish carrier, Aer Lingus, if it agrees to purchase the Government’s stake in the airline as well as shares currently held by low-budget carrier, Ryanair.

Lufthansa warns on deteriorating profits

Lufthansa warns on deteriorating profits

Operating profit at Lufthansa’s remaining passenger airline businesses fell from €629m in 2010 to €349m in 2011, as two of them – Austrian Airlines and Germanwings, the group’s German low-cost carrier – posted operating losses.

easyJet and Ryanair increasingly challenging Air France on regional domestic service in France

easyJet and Ryanair increasingly challenging Air France on regional domestic service in France

The French domestic market is dominated by flights to and from Paris’ two major airports; Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY). Last year, according to figures from Aéroport de Paris, domestic traffic at these two airports was up 7.2% and accounted for 18.9% of total passengers. Since around 2004, seat capacity in the French domestic market has been relatively stable. Prior to that, the existence of Air Littoral and Air Liberte/Air Lib had provided some competition to Air France. However, once these airlines ceased operating, Air France had a virtual monopoly on the domestic market with CCM Airlines/Air Corsica (in which Air France has a small stake) focusing on routes to Corsica.

Ryanair calls on OFT to explain why EU Commission is “best placed" to consider the BA/BMI deal

Ryanair calls on OFT to explain why EU Commission is “best placed" to consider the BA/BMI deal

Ryanair called on the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to explain their decision this week not to ask the European Commission to refer the BA/BMI merger back to the OFT for assessment, which runs contrary to the OFT’s previous decision to attempt to review the European Commission’s ruling on Ryanair’s failed 2006 offer for Aer Lingus, which the OFT is attempting to investigate, despite the fact that it is out of time to do so.

Low cost airline Wizz Air moves flights to Bucharest Otopeni airport, increases prices

Low cost airline Wizz Air moves flights to Bucharest Otopeni airport, increases prices

Low cost airline Wizz Air will move its flights from Baneasa Airport to Otopeni Airport on March 25, 2012. After this date, the price of tickets for the company’s flights abroad will double and even triple, according to calculations made by Zf.ro. Wizz Air representatives announced that the prices will go up to about 4 percent, but, on some destinations, the ticket prices are similar to the one charged by the state company Tarom, writes Zf.ro.

Vueling: Beyond Low Cost

Vueling: Beyond Low Cost

On January 27, 2012, the Spanish airline Spanair announced that it was ceasing operations. A few days later, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary opportunistically unveiled the Irish company’s new routes to Spain during a press conference at Bilbao airport.

BA, EasyJet, Ryanair, Virgin Atlantic Demand U.K. Air-Tax Freeze

BA, EasyJet, Ryanair, Virgin Atlantic Demand U.K. Air-Tax Freeze

Ryanair Holdings Plc (RYA), EasyJet Plc (EZJ), Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. and British Airways-owner IAG (IAG), are calling on the U.K. government to halt a planned increase in aviation tax and investigate its effect on economic growth.

Ryanair calls on OFT to explain why EU Commission is “best placed" to consider the BA/BMI deal

Ryanair calls on OFT to explain why EU Commission is “best placed" to consider the BA/BMI deal

Ryanair called on the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to explain their decision this week not to ask the European Commission to refer the BA/BMI merger back to the OFT for assessment, which runs contrary to the OFT’s previous decision to attempt to review the European Commission’s ruling on Ryanair’s failed 2006 offer for Aer Lingus, which the OFT is attempting to investigate, despite the fact that it is out of time to do so.

Ryanair chief blasts OFT for handling of BMI sale

Ryanair chief blasts OFT for handling of BMI sale

Chief executive Michael O’Leary said that the OfT was favouring British Airways’ and Iberia parent firm International Airlines Group (IAG) in the buyout of the ailing carrier from German owners Lufthansa by not requesting a review of the sale from the European Commission.

Ryanair CEO: Airports unnecessary 'international shopping centers'

Ryanair CEO: Airports unnecessary 'international shopping centers'

The head of Dublin-based budget airline Ryanair says that airport operators are holding the aviation industry back -- and describes the average airport as an unnecessary "international shopping center."

Ryanair boss attacks OFT's handling of bmi takeover

Ryanair boss attacks OFT's handling of bmi takeover

Michael O'Leary argues the purchse of bmi by British Airways's owner IAG gives them too many slots at Heathrow

Spain-bound plane triggers alert at Dutch airport

Spain-bound plane triggers alert at Dutch airport

A Spain-bound passenger plane landed safely back at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, Europe's fifth largest, after its pilot triggered an alert, an airport spokeswoman said Thursday. The plane belonged to low-cost Spanish carrier Vueling, Heldeweg said. The airline's representatives in the Netherlands declined to comment.

Ryanair rapped AGAIN by ad watchdog for implying Thomas Cook was likely to go under

Ryanair rapped AGAIN by ad watchdog for  implying Thomas Cook was likely to go under 

Budget airline Ryanair has once again landed itself in hot water over an advertising campaign in which it claimed Thomas Cook was set to go into administration. In its 23rd reprimand in five years, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said a number of Ryanair adverts, headed with a slogan saying 'Bye bye Thomas Cook' and claiming the tour operator was in 'dire straits', attracted a string of complaints.

Ryanair is tight-lipped over Bmibaby takeover

Ryanair is tight-lipped over Bmibaby takeover

Ryanair has refused to confirm or deny whether it has been lined up to buy low-cost airline Bmibaby. Castle Donington airline group BMI, parent company of Bmibaby, revealed on Monday it had signed a preliminary "non-exclusive" sale agreement with an unnamed airline based in the European Union.

Withdrawal of budget airline bmibaby clips Cardiff Airport’s wings

Withdrawal of budget airline bmibaby clips Cardiff Airport’s wings

Cardiff Airport had almost 200,000 fewer passengers last year, official figures published last night revealed. The number of people using the airport fell 14% in 2011 to 1.2 million, down from 1.39 million in 2010.

Ryanair's risque ad is 38th rebuke in 10 years

Ryanair's risque ad is 38th rebuke in 10 years

Controversial budget airline Ryanair has been censured 38 times over its adverts during the past decade, but has escaped sanction by the national advertising watchdog.

EasyJet load factor and passenger numbers rise

EasyJet load factor and passenger numbers rise

Says February load factor 87.6% versus 86.4% a year ago

Everton FC goalpost Ryanair protest man John Foley given Asbo

Everton FC goalpost Ryanair protest man John Foley given Asbo

Ryanair protester John Foley who handcuffed himself to the goal post at Goodison Park during a match between Everton FC and Manchester City FC was yesterday banned from sports grounds.

Ryanair February traffic down 2%

Ryanair February traffic down 2%

Ryanair carried 4.75 million passengers in February - 2% down on a year ago. The load factor was unchanged at 76%.

Koebenhavns Lufthav. : Vueling, Norwegian and easyJet: Filling the gap after Spanair

Koebenhavns Lufthav. : Vueling, Norwegian and easyJet: Filling the gap after Spanair

Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling is preparing to land at Copenhagen, with 11 weekly flights between Copenhagen and Barcelona. Norwegian is adding flights to this Catalan city as well, closing the gap left by the bankruptcy of former airline Spanair.

'How I annoyed the Bejazus out of Ryanair'

'How I annoyed the Bejazus out of Ryanair'

A couple of weeks ago in this slot I achieved what I thought was the impossible: I annoyed the Bejazus (to use an expression) out of Ryanair. This reverses the natural order of things; in real life Ryanair exists to irritate us, we don’t expect to get them hot under the collar. But I did it.

Ryanair Pays 39 Million Euros Acquiring Stock in Share Buyback

Ryanair Pays 39 Million Euros Acquiring Stock in Share Buyback

Ryanair Holdings Plc (RYA), Europe’s biggest discount airline, bought back 39 million euros ($52 million) worth of stock yesterday as part of a program to use extra cash.

Ryanair takes case over use of images by union

Ryanair takes case over use of images by union

Ryanair has brought a High Court action to prevent the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) using images of its aircraft or fuselage on its website.

Tourvest and Vueling discontinue inflight boutique service

Tourvest and Vueling discontinue inflight boutique service

Low-cost airline Vueling and South African inflight retail concessionaire Tourvest have agreed to discontinue their onboard boutique operation. 

Iberia Express to grow fleet size to 40 in 2015, to have positive impact in excess of EUR100m

Iberia Express to grow fleet size to 40 in 2015, to have positive impact in excess of EUR100m

International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) stated Iberia’s short-haul unit revenues were “far below 2008 levels” in 2011, exacerbated by rising fuel costs. The carrier also confirmed that Iberia Express will launch operations in summer 2012 with an initial workforce of 500 staff and a fleet of A320 aircraft from Iberia. The carrier, 100% owed by Iberia, will be managed independently from Iberia, which will also provide maintenance and handling at a reduced cost. The carrier will commence operations with four A320s to increase to 13 aircraft by year end. In 2013, its fleet size will growth to 16, increasing to 28 in 2014 and 40 in 2015. The carrier expects a positive impact to operating profit from Iberia Express in excess of EUR100 million. 45% of the gain to come from crewing costs, 25% from handling services and operational areas, 25% from overheads and general costs and 5% from increased asset turns. [more – original PR] [more - CAPA Analysis]

Ryanair Launches “Ryanair Cash Passport” in Ireland

Ryanair Launches “Ryanair Cash Passport” in Ireland

Low-fares airline, Ryanair, today announced that the “Ryanair Cash Passport” is now the exclusive way of travelling and avoiding the €6 administration fee in Ireland.