Ryanair cut frequency on London-Shannon route

[lowfaresbuster]

Ryanair cut frequency on London-Shannon route

Ryanair is to halve the frequency of its Shannon to London route.

The low fares airline will now only operate two flights per day as a direct result of the 45% increase in passenger service charges imposed by Aer Rianta.

The increased charges come into effect on 1 January 2004.

Ryanair will reduce its frequency from four flights to two on January 8.

Its Head of Communications, Paul Fitzsimmons said today: "Aer Rianta is intent in strangling growth at Shannon with ridiculously increased charges, at a time when Shannon airport needs to attract more airlines and passengers with lower costs.


"The sooner the Government wakes up and proceeds with the planned break up of the Aer Rianta monopoly the better it will be for competition," he added.



from the Irish Examiner http://www.irishexaminer.com/breaking/2003/12/15/story125792.html

[Copenhagen]

Is this Just Spin?

I'm confused.... Ryanair launch a daily flight to Glasgow, and then complain about fees to London. Have Shannon Fees really gone up 45%, or are Ryanairs discounts running out?

Would it be that, just like Virgin Express - four flights a day to Shannon are unprofitable for the airline? or with Aer Lingus now also offering €1 fares to Heathrow- those in Shannon have less reasons to fly to Stansted anymore.

[lowfaresbuster]

and just for the sake of the confusion of the passenger Ryanair are still publishing 4 flights per day after the "halving date" on their website.
They may cut the morning and evening flights, and then come back in another 3 months and say that they are not getting any support on the route, and will cut it, or they may have sense and keep the morning & evening flights so they will still capture some business traffic, and interlined no frills flights.

[The_Bean_Counter]

According to STN sources FR will also keep just 3 rotations on the ORK route this summer, down from 4 last year. As the SNN - PIK service is free there is no impact from the increased PSC. They are simply replicating the trick used by EI in Dublin to remove €€€'s from their cost base. Keep the same number of aircraft but switch into routes with a lower charge.

[Findo]

The SNN - PIK is to be done by a SNN originating flight from January. Presumably ties in with the same date.