This is where it all gets very serious.
Late Summer/early Autumn 2001 is going to see the first real direct head-head competition between the "low fare" airlines, operating on the same airport pairs*. In these cases its go vs easyJet on BFS to EDI/GLA and go vs Ryanair on DUB - GLA (*ok FR go into PIK in this case) and now EDI.
One could ask why given the number of potential routes that could be served these airlines insist on picking a fight with each other? Is the potential market on these routes that big or are egos at stake.
Certainly, go's decision to enter Ryanair territory is surprising - MOL doesn't suffer competition lightly and his comments and actions yesterday in announcing their new route from DUB-EDI shows it. How low can the fare war go? MOL did put forward the zero fare option a few weeks ago. I'm sure we'll be down to a few pounds (UK or Irish) soon.
So how long will go stay in the DUB market? Who's got deeper pockets and more staying power? How long will 3i put up with the Ryanair effect?
[ 13 July 2001: Message edited by: brabazon ]