Ryanair News

 
News Release
30.08.10

DAA Shannon Hikes Passenger Fees by 33%, as Shannon Traffic Collapses by 37% in 2010

 
 
RYANAIR WARNS OF FURTHER FLIGHT CUTS IF PRICE INCREASE IS NOT REVERSED
 
Ryanair, Ireland’s favourite airline today (30th Aug) criticised DAA Shannon, and its downtown office the Dept of Transport, for Shannon Airport’s insane decision to increase passenger charges at Shannon by 33% (from €9.50 per passenger to €12.65 per passenger) from 1 November, during a year when Shannon Airport’s traffic is on track to collapse from 2.7m to less than 1.7m.
 
Ryanair believes that a 33% hike in Shannon passenger charges is inexplicable and unjustified, when the current rate of inflation in Ireland is zero and airport charges at competitive airports are reducing. This is yet another Govt sponsored attack on Ireland’s declining tourism industry and will cause further devastation to traffic and tourism numbers in Shannon and the Mid West region. 
 
Ryanair called on the Dept of Transport (the downtown office of the DAA), to intervene and order the DAA to reverse these 33% price hikes, before further damage is done to Shannon Airport traffic, tourism and jobs this winter. Ryanair announced that if these price increases are not reversed, then it will shortly announce further flight and traffic cuts at Shannon, which has become increasingly uncompetitive under the mismanagement of the Govt owned DAA monopoly.
 
Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said:
 
“Shannon Airport’s traffic in 2010 is on target to fall by 37% from 2.7m passengers, to 1.7m. Already this winter Aer Lingus has announced the closure of the transatlantic routes for three months from January 2011. The Government’s €10 tourist tax has also made Shannon Airport totally uncompetitive as a gateway to the West of Ireland.
 
“At a time when Shannon Airport should be lowering costs, particularly entering the winter, the airport has announced a crazy plan to raise passenger fees further by 33%. This will further damage Shannon’s flights, traffic and tourism business, since price sensitive passengers simply won’t pay these unjustified price hikes from a Government owned airport monopoly.
 
“The latest cost increases from Shannon Airport prove yet again that the Dept of Transport has no aviation policy in this country, other than protecting the near bankrupt DAA monopoly, even if it’s at the expense of destroying Ireland’s aviation and tourism industries. We call again on the Govt to break up the DAA monopoly and scrap the €10 tourist tax.”
 

 
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