MOL has said often that the future of aviation in Europe will include a few carriers, including LOCOs Ryanair and Easyjet. What is relevant is that while Ryanair may be significantly more profitable than Easyjet, you will find that Easyjet has higher sales and higher average fare. Easyjet operate alot less routes than Ryanair and in many markets have focused on adding frequency rather than routes.
The difference is that Easyjet can be the airline for the business man, on many markets they offer primary airports with frequency. It is probably true that Ryanair offer good frequency on many routes but in the last number of years many new routes coming along were 3/4 per week, suitable mostly for price conscious leisure travellers.
What MOL may be hinting at there is that they will look at big primary airports to operate from where good passenger supply is available.
Anyone who thinks that there is a flaw in MOL strategy would be quite naive. They have cash to burn and can use it to clear out competition.
I have always said that the brand needs to be elevated. Ryanair can be cheap and nasty but it is punctual, good aircraft, strong financials and an extremely flexible business model.
MOL has recognised in the past that building the brand of Ryanair on something other than low fares would have to be done by his successor. Maybe he will embrace this himself. Maybe they will rebrand the airline as a new and caring company!
Many of the locos have moved away from their price orientated slogans
Easyjet moved to Come On Lets fly and Aer Lingus (ok debatable if LOCO) from Low Fares way better to Enjoy your flight.
Last edited by EI-BUD; 12th Sep 2010 at 22:57.