Ryanair - 6
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Top class post Stevie
That is it in a nutshell. The danger for Ryanair is this
. Competition has dramatically narrowed the price differential between Ryanair and older legacy carriers (and between other loco's with a less hostile attitude to customers such as EZ), and customers are likely to make the choice to pay slightly more. If price was the only issue, Kwiksave would not be bankrupt and Tesco would be struggling.
The price difference between loco and scheduled, where I need to take hold luggage, is now usually negligible (taking account of baggage fees and transfer costs from ex-Cold War airfields or similar normally used by locos).
Last edited by jimworcs; 13th Apr 2008 at 17:15. Reason: correct type
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Welcome to the forum, Steviec9!
You are right, Ryanair does just that, they do have millions of customers who think alike and I do believe most are pretty satisfied. And doubtlessly, the cheaper flights in Europe are primarily the result of Ryanair's success story. Like you, I've been using FR (albeit from time to time only) and I also accepted their style myself, many others did.
The question, however, is a bit broader. Even MOL has already admitted that the market is softer nowadays, the demand is not so strong as it should be. Hence, it's either necessary to reduce the development plans, or one should make efforts to find an other solution. Just to win some new customers, to fill up the planes, to make the further expansion possible and rational. In my opinion it is achievable. However, merely by doing something else than just keeping prices very low. There are several ways to do it actually without a significant need to spend more money. The attidude change, does it cost that much? But you can win new passengers when you are more delicate, more friendly. Ryanair needs many new customers and indeed does not need the disappointed ones (don't make them!). And once again; flight offer diversification, better flying schedule (e.g. by creating the "triangle" patterns to make more day-trips avaliable), better research in route planning, and yes, carefully selected connecting flights (where until now some self-made connections were 99%:lly successful, it could become official, meaning more passengers for FR). And so on. A bit more friendly attitude, more creativity while preparing flights offers. That's it, that's no revolution at all. A fight to get more passengers, nothing more.
You are right, Ryanair does just that, they do have millions of customers who think alike and I do believe most are pretty satisfied. And doubtlessly, the cheaper flights in Europe are primarily the result of Ryanair's success story. Like you, I've been using FR (albeit from time to time only) and I also accepted their style myself, many others did.
The question, however, is a bit broader. Even MOL has already admitted that the market is softer nowadays, the demand is not so strong as it should be. Hence, it's either necessary to reduce the development plans, or one should make efforts to find an other solution. Just to win some new customers, to fill up the planes, to make the further expansion possible and rational. In my opinion it is achievable. However, merely by doing something else than just keeping prices very low. There are several ways to do it actually without a significant need to spend more money. The attidude change, does it cost that much? But you can win new passengers when you are more delicate, more friendly. Ryanair needs many new customers and indeed does not need the disappointed ones (don't make them!). And once again; flight offer diversification, better flying schedule (e.g. by creating the "triangle" patterns to make more day-trips avaliable), better research in route planning, and yes, carefully selected connecting flights (where until now some self-made connections were 99%:lly successful, it could become official, meaning more passengers for FR). And so on. A bit more friendly attitude, more creativity while preparing flights offers. That's it, that's no revolution at all. A fight to get more passengers, nothing more.
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Anyone know when FR are to introduce their winter timetable?
I am wanting to book NW-Barcelona region for Xmas-New Year week.
Woud have thought they would have started to be released by now!
I am wanting to book NW-Barcelona region for Xmas-New Year week.
Woud have thought they would have started to be released by now!
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Anyone know when FR are to introduce their winter timetable?
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With oil after hitting $117 a barrel, they are probably taking a lot more time with route selections. I wouldnt expect any Vaxjo - Haugsend routes any time soon!.
They must be due to announce something soon, the Eastern european base which has been "the next Ryanair base" for the last 3 years must be due soon. Also wouldnt be surprised to see a bit more activity in Spain or Hahn.
They must be due to announce something soon, the Eastern european base which has been "the next Ryanair base" for the last 3 years must be due soon. Also wouldnt be surprised to see a bit more activity in Spain or Hahn.
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Interesting article in Times of Malta published over thee weekend
Ryanair grounding 20 planes next winter
by NOEL GRIMA
Irish low cost airline Ryanair is planning to ground around 20 aircraft next winter to counter the impact of spiralling fuel costs. Ryanair is embarking on an intensive cost-cutting drive for its 2008-09 financial year as its fuel costs threaten to widen by €300 million, pushing its profits down by up to 50 per cent
Speaking during the French Connect Low Cost Forum in Courchevel, Ryanair deputy CEO Michael Cawley warned of tough conditions to come this winter.
“This winter is going to be very difficult,” he said. “We will put 20 aircraft on the ground for the winter because it’s more profitable. We would just lose a lot of money (operating them), burning fuel.”
The carrier grounded seven of its 40 aircraft at London Stansted last winter, saying increased airport charges made it more profitable to ground the aircraft during the winter than to operate them, according to Air Transport Intelligence News and www.flightglobal.com.
This information puts in a very different context the threat by the airline that unless Maltese airport charges come down more, the airline could be “forced” to cut down one or two of its present eight routes. It was reported these two routes could be the Bremen and the Girona ones.
An expert told this paper: “The thing is also that nobody will lease these planes. Air Malta’s planes can be easily leased, if they get the right price, because of a more universal cabin layout/look. So they are interesting for premium network carriers, say Etihad, or also charters, like Skyservice/Canada. But with Ryan’s cabins, who is going to take those? It’s no problem to sell them second-hand, but just for a temporary lease where you can’t change the cabin...
“What I reckon is what they are doing now is going around Europe to collect more subsidies and those who give least will have some flights cut… What they will try and do is sell the public in Malta that they do this only because of MIA, but the fact is that these are artificially created markets in a high fuel price environment.
“Besides, I don’t know why Ryanair is always asking for more State intervention for everything. Thought they were the Herald of Free Air Enterprise.”
In an article that appeared in The Malta Independent on Sunday on 5 October 2005, it was stated “Ryanair recently warned the Austrian government that it could seriously rethink its position, which could have grave consequences for the country, if the government does not remove a E3,60 security fee increase, which has gone up to E7,99. Ryanair, in some way, as a kind of warning, will cease all services to another Austrian airport from both Stansted and Hahn from the end of October, just as a three-year ‘embrace contract’ expires.
“In Cornwall, Ryanair announced it would proactively reduce flights on the Stansted-Newquay route, but have not set a concrete date yet, because of a future airport development tax of the enormous sum of Lm5 per return passenger. Ryanair says far less people would be interested in Cornwall with this Lm5 rise on a vacation, but will vote with their feet and go elsewhere (irrespective of the higher fare due to distance of course).
“Getting oneself into a seemingly cosy dependency with only one single enterprise, which can pack up as soon as it does not get what it wants, (in contrast to a private airport, a static object, or also Air Malta as national carrier of, incidentally, an island on the periphery of the EU), which one cannot deny it, might not be everybody’s choice.
“Is it, given long-term energy price challenges, working towards re-focusing tourism on ‘hen night trips’ or ‘pub/club crawls’, or ‘candlelight dinner flights’ some propagate, over at best 2000+kms one-way away purchased only because it is extremely cheap (remember, according to one airline even a few euros make the crucial difference) and tax-free, nothing else, the real way forward?
“Why strafe Robbie Borg’s entrepreneurial dedication to Malta by installing parallel flights supported with advantages his small Britishjet cannot get?
“The problem is not lacking air transport capacities. This summer there were tourists who would have liked to fly to Malta but found all interesting accommodation sold. The problem is not too few hotels in general but having more nights spent during off-peak seasons to fill a (temporary under-occupied) already existing airline and hotel capacities, both of which are not really variable. Can adding more capacity help? Maybe one must make Malta more attractive during off-peak seasons through third measures. Diversifying source markets to spread risks of regional economic slowdowns can help too.”
In contrast, just a couple of hours after the Ryanair press conference on Friday, Air Malta announced a strong winter performance with a 15 per cent increase in passengers carried. Malta’s niche is for short breaks, Chief Officer Commercial Brock Friesen told a press conference. This summer it will have five flights a day to London and as from next year two flights a day to Munich. Another code sharing agreement is due to be signed soon. With many carriers linking Malta to Gatwick, Air Malta will not be the one to pull out, Dr Friesen said.
As regards the French market, Dr Friesen announced an aggressive sales attitude, which will soon see the airline linking on an almost daily basis Malta to a French unnamed city with a 10 million capacity market.
Ryanair grounding 20 planes next winter
by NOEL GRIMA
Irish low cost airline Ryanair is planning to ground around 20 aircraft next winter to counter the impact of spiralling fuel costs. Ryanair is embarking on an intensive cost-cutting drive for its 2008-09 financial year as its fuel costs threaten to widen by €300 million, pushing its profits down by up to 50 per cent
Speaking during the French Connect Low Cost Forum in Courchevel, Ryanair deputy CEO Michael Cawley warned of tough conditions to come this winter.
“This winter is going to be very difficult,” he said. “We will put 20 aircraft on the ground for the winter because it’s more profitable. We would just lose a lot of money (operating them), burning fuel.”
The carrier grounded seven of its 40 aircraft at London Stansted last winter, saying increased airport charges made it more profitable to ground the aircraft during the winter than to operate them, according to Air Transport Intelligence News and www.flightglobal.com.
This information puts in a very different context the threat by the airline that unless Maltese airport charges come down more, the airline could be “forced” to cut down one or two of its present eight routes. It was reported these two routes could be the Bremen and the Girona ones.
An expert told this paper: “The thing is also that nobody will lease these planes. Air Malta’s planes can be easily leased, if they get the right price, because of a more universal cabin layout/look. So they are interesting for premium network carriers, say Etihad, or also charters, like Skyservice/Canada. But with Ryan’s cabins, who is going to take those? It’s no problem to sell them second-hand, but just for a temporary lease where you can’t change the cabin...
“What I reckon is what they are doing now is going around Europe to collect more subsidies and those who give least will have some flights cut… What they will try and do is sell the public in Malta that they do this only because of MIA, but the fact is that these are artificially created markets in a high fuel price environment.
“Besides, I don’t know why Ryanair is always asking for more State intervention for everything. Thought they were the Herald of Free Air Enterprise.”
In an article that appeared in The Malta Independent on Sunday on 5 October 2005, it was stated “Ryanair recently warned the Austrian government that it could seriously rethink its position, which could have grave consequences for the country, if the government does not remove a E3,60 security fee increase, which has gone up to E7,99. Ryanair, in some way, as a kind of warning, will cease all services to another Austrian airport from both Stansted and Hahn from the end of October, just as a three-year ‘embrace contract’ expires.
“In Cornwall, Ryanair announced it would proactively reduce flights on the Stansted-Newquay route, but have not set a concrete date yet, because of a future airport development tax of the enormous sum of Lm5 per return passenger. Ryanair says far less people would be interested in Cornwall with this Lm5 rise on a vacation, but will vote with their feet and go elsewhere (irrespective of the higher fare due to distance of course).
“Getting oneself into a seemingly cosy dependency with only one single enterprise, which can pack up as soon as it does not get what it wants, (in contrast to a private airport, a static object, or also Air Malta as national carrier of, incidentally, an island on the periphery of the EU), which one cannot deny it, might not be everybody’s choice.
“Is it, given long-term energy price challenges, working towards re-focusing tourism on ‘hen night trips’ or ‘pub/club crawls’, or ‘candlelight dinner flights’ some propagate, over at best 2000+kms one-way away purchased only because it is extremely cheap (remember, according to one airline even a few euros make the crucial difference) and tax-free, nothing else, the real way forward?
“Why strafe Robbie Borg’s entrepreneurial dedication to Malta by installing parallel flights supported with advantages his small Britishjet cannot get?
“The problem is not lacking air transport capacities. This summer there were tourists who would have liked to fly to Malta but found all interesting accommodation sold. The problem is not too few hotels in general but having more nights spent during off-peak seasons to fill a (temporary under-occupied) already existing airline and hotel capacities, both of which are not really variable. Can adding more capacity help? Maybe one must make Malta more attractive during off-peak seasons through third measures. Diversifying source markets to spread risks of regional economic slowdowns can help too.”
In contrast, just a couple of hours after the Ryanair press conference on Friday, Air Malta announced a strong winter performance with a 15 per cent increase in passengers carried. Malta’s niche is for short breaks, Chief Officer Commercial Brock Friesen told a press conference. This summer it will have five flights a day to London and as from next year two flights a day to Munich. Another code sharing agreement is due to be signed soon. With many carriers linking Malta to Gatwick, Air Malta will not be the one to pull out, Dr Friesen said.
As regards the French market, Dr Friesen announced an aggressive sales attitude, which will soon see the airline linking on an almost daily basis Malta to a French unnamed city with a 10 million capacity market.
Something Gorgeous in the City
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FR claim to be running flights to Bratislava from EDI. My ma has had a wonderful invitation to visit a friend there and I said I would organise transport. Trouble is, go to FR website and the timetable for the route says...no flights. Nada. Nil. Maybe they just found out Slovakia isn't in Austria 
. Is this still the timetable delay issue or is it just rank amateur night?
OK, I'm not normally this snippy, but feel protective of ma and want to deliver on my promise - would have been her (and late dad's) wedding anniversary yesterday.
. Is this still the timetable delay issue or is it just rank amateur night?OK, I'm not normally this snippy, but feel protective of ma and want to deliver on my promise - would have been her (and late dad's) wedding anniversary yesterday.
I know I shouldn't, but I cannot help responding to that last gem from Carbootking.
First of all please explain why you think there should be less parking space during the day rather than at night when there is generally less flying going on.
Secondly as Ryanair are famous for operating to out of the way and underutilised airports all over Europe, why do you think they will have trouble finding parking.
In a perfect world somewhere hot and dry, where you have access to maintenance staff, who can keep an eye on your aircraft, would be the ideal. If they were my aircraft somewhere on my route network in southern Europe not too close to the sea would be good.
I assure you it is not a big problem. A more interesting question is why dry or even wet leasing is not an option.
First of all please explain why you think there should be less parking space during the day rather than at night when there is generally less flying going on.
Secondly as Ryanair are famous for operating to out of the way and underutilised airports all over Europe, why do you think they will have trouble finding parking.
In a perfect world somewhere hot and dry, where you have access to maintenance staff, who can keep an eye on your aircraft, would be the ideal. If they were my aircraft somewhere on my route network in southern Europe not too close to the sea would be good.
I assure you it is not a big problem. A more interesting question is why dry or even wet leasing is not an option.
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It is unlikely that Ryanair will ground 20 actual airframes for the winter. What they will do is keep an extra 20 aircraft on the ground at their various bases but constantly rotating the airframes so ensuring an even amount of flying hours spread through the fleet.
Thanks for that Kick the tyres, missed that bit! I admit to being not much of an expert on Ryanair cabins as I sit front left for one of their rivals, actually several of their rivals when you take our wet leasing into account!
I have seen aircraft that looked like they were from Ryanair (e.g. 90% colour scheme) operating for others. Most recent one seemed to be flying for EL AL. I have no idea on what basis, but presumably leased given the colour scheme.
But the journo makes a fair point that the aircraft are less attractive to others. Makes you wonder if taking the seat pockets off and other such innovations is such a great idea!
I have seen aircraft that looked like they were from Ryanair (e.g. 90% colour scheme) operating for others. Most recent one seemed to be flying for EL AL. I have no idea on what basis, but presumably leased given the colour scheme.
But the journo makes a fair point that the aircraft are less attractive to others. Makes you wonder if taking the seat pockets off and other such innovations is such a great idea!