ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES & RYANAIR



1. AIRCRAFT NOISE REGULATIONS

Ryanair is subject to international, national, and in some cases, local noise regulations standards. EU and Irish regulations require that all Ryanair aircraft comply with stage 3 noise requirements since April 2002. All of Ryanair’s aircraft currently comply with these regulations.

Certain airports in the UK (including London Stansted and London Gatwick) and in continental Europe have established local noise restrictions, including limits on the number of hourly and daily operations or the time of such operations.

2. RYANAIR’S POLICY ON NOISE & EMISSIONS

Ryanair is committed to reducing emissions and noise and has undertaken a fleet replacement programme which is replacing the Boeing 737-200 aircraft fleet with brand new ‘next generation’ Boeing 737-800 aircraft. These ‘next generation’ aircraft have less emissions, lower fuel burn, greater seat density and quieter engines which significantly reduce the impact on the environment. This replacement programme will be fully complete by December 2005. Ryanair’s future growth plans include only an environmentally friendly Boeing 737-800 ‘next generation’ aircraft. The total value of the fleet replacement and expansion programme is €7.75bn.

At a distance of 2kms, a Boeing 737-800 ‘next generation’ aircraft makes less noise than a domestic vacuum cleaner.

Ryanair has distinctive operational characteristics that are helpful to the general environment:

  • No late night departures of aircraft which reduces noise emissions
  • Reducing the per passenger emissions through higher load factors
  • Operating fuel efficient Boeing 737-800 ‘next generation’ aircraft, reducing fuel usage per seat by 45%
  • Superior utilisation of existing infra-structure by operating to/from under-utilised airports throughout Europe.
  • Direct routes avoid connecting to a second or third aircraft at congested hub
3. EMISSIONS CHARGING

Ryanair is opposed to emissions charging. Ryanair has and continues, to offer the lowest fares in Europe, to make passenger travel affordable and accessible to ordinary European consumers. To impose a charge on the emissions of the aircraft will increase air fares and discourage competition in the market resulting in less choice for consumers. Flying should not be confined only to the rich. Affordable air travel is the right of all ordinary people.

Any proposed imposition of an emissions trading scheme on airlines would enable the high cost flag carriers to achieve their objectives of increasing prices reducing competition. This would greatly benefit the high cost flag carrier airlines in the EU who have smaller aircraft, considerably lower load factors, have a much higher fuel burn per passenger and who operate into already inefficient congested airports.

4. FUEL EMISSIONS

A Boeing 737-800 ‘next generation’ aircraft with a 70% load factor uses LESS fuel per passenger kilometre than a car with just one occupant.