IATA Confirms Ryanair Is The World’s Favourite Airline

[ATC Watcher]

Ryanair: IATA Confirms Ryanair Is The World’s Favourite Airline
Source: Ryanair
17/06/2013
Ryanair today (17 June) welcomed confirmation from IATA that Ryanair remains the world’s favourite airline after IATA’s 2012 World Airline Transport Statistics showed Ryanair once again carried more international passengers than any other airline.

Ryanair carried 79.6m international passengers last year, almost 29m more than second-placed Lufthansa (50.8m) and 35m more than third-placed EasyJet (44.6m).

Indeed, Ryanair carried more international passengers than:
· EasyJet and British Airways combined (75.8m)
· Air France, KLM , Iberia and Alitalia combined (79.3m)
· Lufthansa and Air Berlin combined (74m)
· and 8 times more passengers than Irish regional carrier Aer Lingus (9.6m)

end quote of press release

[Sunnyjohn]

Definition of favourite (from Dictionary online):

a person or thing that is preferred to all others of the same kind or is especially well liked

Note the word in the definition 'preferred' and the phrase 'especially well-liked'.
Most assuredly they carry more passengers and I use them regularly with no complaints. But 'favourite'? I think not.

[BOAC]

I believe Richard Branson commented on BA advertising themselves as 'the world's favourite airline' along the lines of - 'that makes the M25 the world's favourite motorway'.

[flyingtincan]

So all those millions of passengers are doing something they don't like?

Are they being forced onto the aeroplanes?

[Dash8driver1312]

"Preferred" does seem to fit the bill here...

[Capetonian]

I am surprised at IATA using such emotive language to promote an airline. Aren't they, as trade organisation, meant to be neutral and just publish statistics?

Whilst I would not deny the achievement here, and I recognise MoL's business acumen, he has secured top place in the tables by operating on a number of routes that are otherwise not served, and by appearing to offer very low fares, and keeping costs down by penny-pinching.

A lot of people will buy anything if it's cheap enough. An ex-boss of mine who was a foul mouthed oaf used to say, when people complained about the food on the airline I worked for : "They'll eat **** if they're starving."

So, well done, MoL, but pride comes before a fall, and like many others, I will not fly on Ryanair.

[ATC Watcher]

I am surprised at IATA using such emotive language to promote an airline

Read carefully, IATA never said this, they just published statistics. It is FR that did the promotional language .. very clever I would say..

[Black Pudding]

carried more international passengers than any other airline.

Does not mean favourate

[The African Dude]

flyingtincan if there is absolutely no other sensible option then I will use them - not being "forced" but I certainly do not consider if a "preferred" or enjoyable experience.

[ExXB]

But not the most favourite in RTKs!

[No RYR for me]

I believe Richard Branson commented on BA advertising themselves as 'the world's favourite airline' along the lines of - 'that makes the M25 the world's favourite motorway'.

Absolute classic that I should remember!

[Dubaian]

Shouldn't the Advertising Standards Authority look into this misleading use of the English language? It always bugged me when BA used 'world's favourite airline' and now O'Leary has jumped on the bandwagon.

[Capetonian]

easyJet jumped onto that bandwagon too, as 'the web's favourite airline'. Perhaps they deserve the accolade - Ryanair certainly don't.

ATC Watcher : Thanks - you are correct of course.

[A4]

easyJet has just surpassed 60 million pax per year - so the 44 million is "old news". Coincidentally, today, eJ have announced an order for up to 235 aircraft with a potential fleet size of 298 aircraft by 2022 which is about 3-5% expansion per year.

Can't blame Ryanair for spinning the IATA Data it's called marketing.

[What the Fug]

· and 8 times more passengers than Irish regional carrier Aer Lingus (9.6m)


Never miss an opportunity to put the boot in does MOL

[Agaricus bisporus]

Well, Heineken have been claiming for decades to be "probably the world's" best catspiss...
Is anyone fooled?

[AviatorDave]

Ryanair

Why does Ryanair appear to be liked?

They are cheap.

They have so far operated without major incidents and loss of lives.

People are just going where the fares are lowest, and they are apparently willing to bend over and take the abuse associated with the low fares.

Not exactly my idea of a "popular" outfit, but anyway.

[ayroplain]

and they are apparently willing to bend over and take the abuse associated with the low fares.

I've done hundreds of flights with Ryanair so, unlike many here, I am qualified to comment. I have never experienced or seen this abuse. Could you point me in the general direction of where I might experience or see it (other than the Daily Mail, of course).

[racedo]

Ryanair state results of IATA data

Cue Ryanair haters agononising over dictionary to redefine Favourite or claiming that its all about flying 79 million people to places they don't to go.....

[BOAC]

and they are apparently willing to bend over and take the abuse associated with the low fares.

- however, as we have seen, they have their 'bend over' limits.