Nouvelles Ryanair

News Release

20.11.09

Record Growth At Charleroi

Ryanair celebrates record growth at Brussels Charleroi

3 new aircraft, 19 new routes and 3.5m pax this year

Ryanair, the world’s favourite airline, today (20^th Nov) confirmed that it has delivered on its December 2008 promise to substantially grow at Charleroi with three new aircraft, 19 new routes and 3.5m passengers for Brussels (Charleroi) in 2009, following the European Court of First Instance dismissal of the European Commission’s flawed ruling in the Charleroi case.

Ryanair now operates 50 routes from Charleroi, has invested over $550m in eight based aircraft and delivers 3.5m passengers p.a. which sustain 3,500 local jobs in the Walloon region. Ryanair confirmed that the Belgian Government’s decision to reverse its proposed tourist tax has been a key driver of this record growth. Brussels is now an example to the UK and Ireland where tourism has collapsed as a result of unjust tourist taxes.

Ryanair celebrated its record 2009 growth at Brussels (Charleroi) by releasing 500,000 Christmas seats for €5 each for travel on 500 European routes in late December. These seats are available for booking until midnight Monday (23^rd Nov).

Speaking in Brussels, Michael O’Leary said:

“Ryanair has always delivered on its promises. Just one year after the Court of First Instance vindicated Ryanair’s agreement with Brussels Charleroi, and thanks to the Belgian Government’s enlightened decision to scrap its tourist tax, Brussels Charleroi has grown by three based aircraft, 19 routes, 750,000 new passengers and over 750 new jobs.

Brussels (Charleroi) is now the model for how efficient low cost airports should operate and an example to the Irish and UK Governments which continue to preside over collapsing passenger traffic due to high cost airports and suicidal tourist taxes.

To celebrate our growth at Charleroi we have today released 500,000 seats for just €5 for travel over the Christmas period. These seats are available for booking before midnight Monday so passengers should snap up one of our €5 fares today.”