Ryanair News - Latest News

Ryanair Launches New Captcha System On Ryanair.Com

21 May 2013

21.05.13

FASTER ACCESS TO THE LOWEST FARES & MORE FUN TOO!

Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC), today (21 May) launched a new CAPTCHA security system on the Ryanair.com website, which offers speedier access to Ryanair’s lowest fares on Ryanair.com.

The CAPTCHA system has been introduced across all Ryanair markets following a successful trial on Ryanair’s Irish and UK websites, providing consumers with advanced and simplified methods of entering CAPTCHA details, including by a question and answer process and by simple word recognition and repetition.

Developed by Solve Media, Ryanair uses CAPTCHA systems to improve consumer protection against unauthorised screenscraper websites and to ensure customers can find the guaranteed lowest fares only at Ryanair.com, Europe’s largest travel website.

Ryanair’s Robin Kiely said:

“Ryanair is continually striving to improve the customer experience of our 80m passengers and following a successful trial, we have introduced a new CAPTCHA system on our Ryanair.com website, which will further improve the usability of Ryanair.com for 1.2m daily users – and make booking our low-fare flights even more fun!

With helpful travel reminders, words of wisdom and some simple brain teasers, Ryanair passengers can look forward to even faster access to the lowest fares, while the CAPTCHA facility also improves consumer protection, preventing passengers being ripped-off by unauthorised screenscraper websites mis-selling Ryanair’s low fares.”

Fly London To Oslo Rygge From Just £15.99

20 May 2013

20.05.13

RYANAIR’S MONDAY MADNESS!

100,000 seats on over 1,000 European routes in June from only £15.99

Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC), announced that from midnight (24:00hrs) tonight (Mon 20 May), passengers can fly from London Stansted to Oslo Rygge from just £15.99 in June as part of its ‘Monday Madness’ low fares promotion.

Ryanair is releasing 100,000 seats across its entire European network at prices starting from just £15.99 for travel on Mon, Tue, Wed & Thur in June and these “all in” low fares will be available on over 1,000 of Ryanair’s European routes, but must be booked on www.ryanair.com before midnight (24:00hrs) Thur, 23 May.

Ryanair’s £15.99 sale fare includes all non-optional taxes, charges and fees, so passengers who travel with carry-on luggage only and decline our priority boarding service can book, check-in online and fly for this advertised £15.99 price, by booking one of these 100,000 ‘Monday Madness’ seats.

Ryanair’s Robin Kiely said:

“Only Ryanair sells Europe’s lowest fares with no fuel surcharges guaranteed, across over 1,500 routes, connecting 180 destinations, while delivering Europe’s No 1 customer service, with the most on-time flights, fewest cancellations and least mishandled bags.

From midnight tonight (20 May), passengers can book 100,000 ‘Monday Madness’ seats on over 1,000 European routes, including London Stansted to Oslo Rygge, at prices starting from just £15.99, for travel in June. These seats are only available until midnight (24:00hrs) Thursday (23 May) and at these mad prices are sure to be snapped up fast, so we urge passengers to book them on www.ryanair.com before they sell out.”

20 May - Full Year Results 2013

20 May 2013

20.05.13

RYANAIR FULL YEAR PROFITS UP 13% TO €569M

TRAFFIC UP 5% TO 79M, NEW AIRCRAFT ORDER UNDERPINS GROWTH

Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC) today (May 20) announced (record) annual profits of €569m, up 13% on last year despite higher oil costs. Revenues rose 13% to €4.88bn as traffic grew 5% to 79.3m passengers. Unit costs rose 8% mainly due to an 18% (€292m) increase in fuel. Excluding fuel unit costs rose by 3%, while avg. fares improved by 6%.

Full Year End (IFRS)	Mar 31, 2012	Mar 31, 2013	% Change
Passengers(m)	75.8	79.3	+ 5%
Revenue(m)	€4,325	€4,884	+13%
Profit after Tax(m) Note 1	€503	€569	+13%
Basic EPS(euro cent)	34.10	39.45	+16%

“Announcing these profits Ryanair’s, Michael O’Leary, said:

The highlights of the past financial year include:-

· Profits grew by 13% to €569m.

· Traffic grew 5% to 79.3m (despite grounding up to 80 winter aircraft).

· 7 new bases – Chania (Greece), Eindhoven (Netherlands), Fez (Morocco), Krakow (Poland), Maastricht (Netherlands), Marrakech (Morocco) & Zadar (Croatia).

· 217 new routes (y/e total over 1,600 routes).

· 15 new aircraft delivered (y/e fleet 305).

· 2nd special div. of €492m and €68m share buyback completed.

· 175 new aircraft order, delivery 2014 to 2018 (sub. to June 18 EGM approval).

Delivering a 13% increase in profits and 5% traffic growth despite high oil prices during a European recession is testimony to the strength of Ryanair’s ultra-low cost model. Fuel costs rose by over €290m, and now represent 45% of total costs. Excluding fuel, unit costs were up 3% due to excessive and unjustified increases in Italian ATC, Eurocontrol and Spanish airport fees. Ancillary revenues outpaced traffic growth, rising 20% to €1,064m or 22% of total revenue.

Growth – New Routes and Bases

This summer Ryanair opened 7 new bases, and more than 200 new routes as we continue our strategy of growing Europe’s largest passenger airline. However with 9 (net) additional aircraft and longer sectors, traffic growth this summer will be very modest at approx. 2%. By grounding fewer aircraft next winter we expect to deliver slightly faster H2 monthly growth which should result in overall traffic growth for the full year rising by more than 2m to 81.5m passengers.

Forward bookings on our new routes and bases this summer are ahead of expectations (albeit at modest yields) as competitor airlines continue to restructure and cut short-haul capacity. We expect growth opportunities for Ryanair to expand and improve for the foreseeable future.

Our new route teams continue to handle more growth opportunities than our current fleet expansion allows. Significant opportunities are opening up in Germany, Scandinavia and central Europe in particular, where Air Berlin, SAS and LOT continue to restructure. We are in active discussions with the new owners of Stansted Airport and the new management at Dublin Airport and while no agreements have yet been reached, if a competitive cost base emerges, then we could restart growth at one or other airports as early as September 2013.

We have also made offers to the Spanish airport monopoly AENA to reverse a significant proportion of its traffic declines over the past two years. In a country where youth unemployment runs at 50%, their policy of increasing airport fees, while traffic declined from over 220m to under 180m over the past six years is plainly ill-judged. As ever, Ryanair remains willing to exploit growth opportunities wherever airports provide attractive incentives to do so.

Market Share Gains

Ryanair continues to expand, making meaningful share gains in many of Europe’s largest markets. In addition to being the No. 1 passenger airline in Ireland, and Spain, we have in the last 12 months overtaken Alitalia and LOT to become Italy’s and Poland’s No. 1 airline, respectively. Ryanair believes that its unique low cost advantage will enable the airline to achieve a 20% share of the European short-haul market over the next 5 years, particularly given that many of Europe’s high fare incumbents are restructuring and cutting capacity.

New 175 Aircraft Order

Ryanair’s successful growth, allied to deep short-haul restructuring among many high fare competitors, gives us confidence that we can grow from 80m p.a. to over 100m passengers p.a. over the next 5 years. Our recent order for 175 firm B 737-800 aircraft represents an enormous opportunity for shareholders as Ryanair returns to higher rates (5% p.a.) of traffic growth. We are pleased to have reached acceptable pricing with Boeing, and the controlled delivery programme from Autumn 2014 to end of 2018 will provide the opportunity to expand Ryanair’s fleet to over 400 aircraft and our traffic to over 100m p.a. Ryanair is now uniquely positioned to offer many of Europe’s airports sustained traffic growth in return for low cost, efficient facilities. I am confident that in time this new order will enable Ryanair to extend its traffic leadership over Europe’s airlines, and generate further returns for our shareholders.

Aer Lingus

We were disappointed that the European Commission in February 2013 decided to prohibit Ryanair’s third offer for Aer Lingus. It is bizarre that the EU can wave through BA’s offer for British Midland in Phase 1 with few remedies, yet months later reject Ryanair’s offer for Aer Lingus which was accompanied by a revolutionary remedies package delivering two upfront buyers to open competing bases in Dublin and Cork airports. We have no doubt that this was yet another politically motivated decision by Europe’s competition authority and it is inexplicable in the context of its stated policy of promoting European airline consolidation.

Having our third offer for Aer Lingus prohibited by the EU Commission on the grounds that “competition between Ryanair and Aer Lingus has intensified since 2007”, our shareholding is now the subject of an even more bizarre regulatory inquiry in the UK where the Competition Commission are reviewing our 6½ year old minority stake in Aer Lingus on the basis that it may have “lessened competition” between Ryanair and Aer Lingus. Given that the UK Competition Commission has a legal duty of sincere co-operation with the EU, we believe they cannot make a contrary finding, and so this spurious and time wasting inquiry into a 6½ year old minority stake between two Irish airlines, one of whom (Aer Lingus) has a tiny presence in the UK market should now be abandoned in the light of the EU Commission’s finding that competition between Ryanair and Aer Lingus has intensified.

Fuel Hedging

In recent years high oil prices and competitor fuel surcharges have made Ryanair’s fares even more attractive to hard pressed European consumers. The combination of high oil prices, increasing competitor losses, together with a shortage of financing for weaker credits, will lead to continued EU consolidation and closures. Ryanair is 90% hedged for FY’14 at $980 per tonne (approx. $98 p.bl) and we have now extended our hedges into FY’15 with 25% of H1 hedged at $930 per tonne (approx. $93 p.bl). We hope to continue to make meaningful reductions in our oil costs into FY’15.

Balance Sheet

Ryanair’s balance sheet remains one of the strongest in the industry. Our aircraft which have been purchased at substantially discounted prices, represents a significant long term benefit for our shareholders. We have gross cash over €3.5bn and year-end net cash of €61m, despite having returned almost €500m to shareholders in November (€1.5bn over the past 5 years) via a second special dividend. We have also taken advantage of current low interest rates to secure almost 70% of our fleet financing all in at under 3% and we have completed our Capex hedging programme to the end of 2014 at Euro/Dollar exchange rate of 1.32.

Outlook

We expect traffic in FY.14 to grow by 3% to 81.5m. Growth will be slower in H1 at approx. 2%, but rise to approx. 5% in H2 as we ground fewer winter aircraft (up to 60) compared to prior years. Unit costs will increase primarily due to rising oil prices, a 3% growth in sector length, and unjustified higher Eurocontrol and Spanish airport charges. Due to lower yields and higher fuel costs Q1 Net Profit will be lower than last year due to the timing of Easter (which boosted Q4 revenues) and its presence in the prior year Q1 comparable. With almost zero yield visibility into H2 and the EU wide recession, we expect that there will continue to be downward pressure on yields which will dampen full year profit growth. We expect modest yield and traffic growth for the full year to be partly offset by higher oil and Eurocontrol costs resulting in another year of profit growth in FY’14 which - subject to winter yield outturns - should increase to a range of between €570m to €600m”.

Four Passengers Win Cars Onboard Ryanair Flights

17 May 2013

17.05.13

LATEST ‘FLY TO WIN’ RYANAIR SCRATCHCARD WINNERS

Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC), today (16 May) presented four passengers from France, Ireland, Spain and the UK with brand new luxury cars, after they became Ryanair’s latest “Fly to Win” Scratchcards lucky winners.

Mr Francisco de Asis Barros (Villagarcia De Arose), Ms Marie McGee (Dublin) Mr David Christie (Manchester) and Ms Muriana Lopez (Marseille) each won a stunning car after buying a €2 scratchcard onboard their Ryanair flights and were presented with the keys to their luxury motors at Ryanair’s Madrid base today.

Ryanair’s scratchcards are extremely popular with passengers who are in with a chance to win prizes ranging from cash to a brand new luxury car, as well as the chance to scoop a cool €1 million – all for a stake of just €2. Ryanair’s scratchcards also support a range of charities across Europe, including the Jack & Jill Foundation and The Marie Keating Foundation in Ireland, and The Meyer Children’s Hospital and L’Aquila Playgrounds in Italy.

Presenting the keys in Madrid today, Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said:

“Every one of our 80m passengers is already a winner thanks to Ryanair’s guaranteed lowest fares and our ‘Fly To Win’ scratchcards offer some fabulous prizes, including a brand new car every single month, as well as cash and the chance to win €1 million, all for a stake of just €2.

We are delighted to present four of our passengers from across Europe with brand new luxury cars and wish each of them many years of happy motoring in their new motors, which are worth over €15,000 each, but cost them just €2.

Passengers who buy Ryanair’s scratchcards are also helping a range of charities across Europe, who receive ongoing donations, so look out for our scratchcards on your next Ryanair flight and you could be our next winner.”

We’re All Going On Our Summer Holidays…

16 May 2013

16.05.13

ON RYANAIR'S LOWEST FARES FROM MANCHESTER

Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC), today (16 May) urged passengers in the North West to see the sights of Europe for less this summer on one of Ryanair’s 32 exciting routes from Manchester. Ryanair’s ‘bargain bus’ is parading through the North West this week offering £5 discount vouchers on selected routes from Manchester, as well as other Ryanair goodies.

Ryanair is the first stop when it comes to low fares and Ryanair’s flights from Manchester start from as little as £15.99 for travel in June, including all non-optional taxes, charges and fees. These ‘all-in’ low fares must be booked on www.ryanair.com by Monday, 20th May.

Ryanair’s Lisa Cashin said:

“Forget United’s open top bus parade – Ryanair is the European Champion of low cost travel and our ‘summer holidays’ bus will be parading through the Greater Manchester area today and tomorrow, reminding passengers that Ryanair is the first stop for low fares when booking this year’s summer holiday. With a choice of 32 exciting destinations from Manchester, passengers in the North West should avoid rip-off travel agents and book directly on Ryanair.com today.

From midnight tonight (16 May), passengers can book 100,000 seats on over 1,000 European routes, at prices starting from just £15.99 for travel in June. These seats are only available until midnight (24:00hrs) Monday (20 May) and at these mad prices are sure to be snapped up fast, so we urge passengers book them on www.ryanair.com before they sell out.”

Fly London To Strasbourg From Just £15.99

16 May 2013

16.05.13

RYANAIR’S BARGAIN THURSDAY!

100,000 seats on over 1,000 European routes in June from only £15.99

Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC), announced that from midnight (24:00hrs) tonight (Thur 16 May), passengers can fly from London Stansted to Strasbourg from just £15.99 in June as part of its weekly ‘Bargain Thursday’ promotion.

Ryanair is releasing 100,000 seats across its European network at prices starting from just £15.99 for travel on Mon, Tue, Wed & Thur in June and these “all in” low fares will be available on over 1,000 of Ryanair’s European routes, but must be booked on www.ryanair.com before midnight (24:00hrs) Mon, 20 May.

Ryanair’s £15.99 sale fare includes all non-optional taxes, charges and fees, so passengers who only travel with carry-on luggage and decline our priority boarding service can book, check-in online and fly for this advertised £15.99 fare on these ‘Bargain Thursday’ flights.

Ryanair’s Robin Kiely said:

From midnight tonight (16 May), passengers can book 100,000 ‘Bargain Thursday’ seats on over 1,000 European routes, including London Stansted to Strasbourg, at prices starting from just £15.99, for travel in June. These seats are only available until midnight (24:00hrs) Monday (20 May) and at these mad prices are sure to be snapped up fast, so we urge passengers to book them on www.ryanair.com before they sell out.”

Ryanair Welcomes Eu Court Confirmation That European Commission Failed To Investigate Alitalia State Aid

16 May 2013

16.05.13

Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC), today (16 May) welcomed the EU Court’s ruling which confirmed that the European Commission has failed to investigate “State Aid” granted to Alitalia.

Ryanair had initially notified the European Commission of Alitalia’s “State Aid” in June 2006. However, the Commission failed to act and Ryanair was left with no choice but to bring this case before the European Courts. Today’s decision reaffirms the 2011 decision of the European General Court, which also ruled that the Commission had failed in its duty to investigate this “State Aid”.

Ryanair’s Robin Kiely said:

“We welcome today’s ruling of the EU Court of Justice which upholds the EU General Court’s ruling that the EU Commission failed to investigate repeated “State Aid” to Alitalia, which has harmed competition in Europe and propped up a failing high-cost flag carrier to the detriment of European passengers.

We look forward to the Commission finally investigating this repeated “State Aid” and call on Alitalia to immediately repay the taxpayers’ money it has illegally received.”

Ryanair Launches New Partnership With Looking4parking

15 May 2013

15.05.13

Ryanair, Europe's only ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC), today (15 May) launched a new partnership with Looking4Parking, the UK's leading and fastest-growing car parking provider, offering low cost parking at 9 of Ryanair's UK airports.

Ryanair passengers travelling from Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, London Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted and Manchester can now book both 'meet and greet' and 'park and ride' parking facilities on the Ryanair.com website and enjoy significant savings over standard airport parking.

Part of the Travel Parking Group, one of the biggest providers of meet and greet parking at UK airports, Looking4Parking’s partnership with Ryanair will ensure Ryanair passengers enjoy the perfect start to their holidays or business trip.

Ryanair's Robin Kiely said:

"Ryanair passengers already enjoy the lowest airfares in Europe and they can now book low cost parking at nine of our UK airports, offering even greater savings. We're pleased to announce a new partnership with Looking4Parking as we extend our range of money-saving ancillary services and products to our 80m passengers."

Looking4Parking’s Martin Mansell said:

“As the UK’s fastest growing car parking provider, we’re delighted to be working in partnership with Ryanair. With our ‘meet and greet’ and ‘park and ride’ services, Looking4Parking offers travellers significant savings whilst guaranteeing a stress free start to their holiday or business trip. We look forward to showcasing the benefits of our services to Ryanair customers across nine UK airports.”

Ryanair & National Express Announce Record Opening Bookings

14 May 2013

14.05.13

LOW COST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TRAVEL TO LONDON

Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC), today (14 May) announced record coach transfer bookings following the launch of its partnership with Europe’s largest scheduled coach operator, National Express, which offers Ryanair passengers travelling to/from London and Manchester affordable and direct coach travel.

Ryanair passengers travelling to/from London Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted and Manchester can avail of direct National Express connections to and from the airport door by booking online on the Ryanair.com website or purchasing tickets onboard Ryanair flights in the UK. Since launching the partnership at the end of March, thousands of Ryanair passengers have travelled on National Express services in the UK.

Ryanair has also scheduled 23 extra flights between Germany and London for the Champions League final on 25^th May and Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund fans flying on Ryanair’s lowest fares can avail of Champions League coach travel to/from London city with National Express, which has also scheduled extra coaches, ensuring a winning combination, no matter who lifts the trophy.

Ryanair’s Robin Kiely said:

“Since launching in March, Ryanair’s partnership with National Express has been a huge success, with thousands of passengers travelling not only on the lowest airfares, but availing of affordable coach travel both on the Ryanair.com website and onboard Ryanair flights operating to and from London Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted and Manchester Airport. Ryanair will operate an extra 23 flights between Germany and London this month for the Champions League final and Bayern and Dortmund fans can save even more, thanks to our Champions League specials and National Express coach transfers, available now on Ryanair.com.”

National Express UK Coach Managing Director, Tom Stables said:

"We are delighted to see our partnership with Ryanair is proving such a flyaway success. National Express operate millions of passenger journeys to UK airports each year, with 24/7 services running directly to the airport terminals. This partnership means it is now simpler than ever for holidaymakers and business travellers to book affordable airport travel."

Cheap Flights

30 April 2013