Nikmanl - this still needs approval at the EGM, didn't state when & where this would be + not sure if this would be a formality anyway? The presentation also mentions the commercial logic of confirming this order now. Presumably there is also a certain amount of "news management" here with some of the other stick they've been taking recently, but then again, they always have had a slick
PR machine!
The most interesting things is, as Curious pointed out, those possible new bases.
Again, not sure if any were specifically clarified, but unless anyone wants to scan in maps for precise co-ordinates:
Within the UK:
North: Near LPL - would that be more likely to be LBA than MAN - MOL was certainly enjoying some good MAN bashing last week, and I just can't see how it would really be their kind of airport (operationally) , even if they did "jump through hoops" to get FR there in the first place on the DUB run.
Midlands: Would DSA be more likely than EMA, once DSA to DUB has been established. Would Peel deal harder than MAG? No surprise not to see BHX on their plans, and presumably CVT's runway precludes it from becoming an -800 base, but could CVT-DUB be more attractive than BHX-DUB if a good deal on handling balanced out any possibility of LDY style reduced capacity???
Southwest - BRS looking more for "high yield" routes like EWR? BOH catchment not big enough for an FR base?
European bases not already served / not obvious:
Portugal - is that really LIS?
Spain - VLL - and is the one in the middle Don Quixote? In SW is that SVQ? Would they really base at AGP, or is there another Ryanairport option down there not yet opened?; MJV? NW - a bit too far right for SDR?
Italy - is that NAP to complement CIA?
France - looks like NCE in the bottom corner, but that must be one of the most un-Ryanairports in France (apart from CDG!). Or is it TLN?
Switzerland - is that GVA (poss loco terminal) and BSL?
Germany - almost looks like MUC down in the south - again that must be totally unFRiendly!
Poland - ??
Denmark - looks like CPH, but surely not - even EZ have pulled routes here!
Maybe I'm reading a little too much into this, maybe some of these are deliberately out to confuse / start discussions, but there appear to be several possible airports in this list which would not fit the Ryanair model.
An order of new planes of this magnitude is certainly significant, and it is a gamble which appears to have been well calculated.
Are they revealing a possible intention to start using some "major airports" for the first time beyond their existing ROI operations.
Could this be the real news?