Routes and Airports Channel

Ryanair cuts capacity at London Stansted, Dublin

ATW's Airports Today, August, 2009, p.6

Ryanair will reduce winter schedule capacity at London Stansted by 40%, operating just 24 aircraft from the airport compared to the present 40. CEO Michael O'Leary said the decision "shows just how much [UK Prime Minister] Gordon Brown's £10 ($16.46) tourist tax and the BAA Monopoly's high airport charges are damaging London and UK tourism and the British economy generally," while reiterating that STN is one of Ryanair's two most expensive bases, the other being Dublin. The airline said BAA rejected its call for "deep cuts in these high passenger fees" this winter. In November, the UK's air passenger duty on short-haul economy flights will increase to £11 from £10.

Ryanair said it will also reduce Dublin winter capacity by 22% year-over-year, or by four aircraft to 14 based aircraft. It did not specify which routes would be affected, but weekly flights will drop below 1,000 from the approximately 1,200 operated to/from DUB in winter 2008-09. Last month it said it would lower the number of aircraft at DUB to 16. It said the newest cuts are the result of "high and rising costs at Dublin Airport, combined with an insanely stupid €10 ($14.12) tourist tax" imposed by the Irish government.

Dublin Airport Authority responded, saying Ryanair's move "is purely related to the current economic downturn" and that recent experience demonstrates the LCC announces large cuts in capacity to the media but subsequently reduces capacity by a much smaller amount in reality. DAA claimed DUB's passenger charges have fallen by 30% in real terms over the past 20 years and that ACI research indicated its charges "are among the lowest of any comparable European airport."

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