Hospitality Ireland Presents Round-Up Of Ryanair News

Hospitality Ireland presents a round-up of Ryanair news.

Ryanair Drops London Listing, Citing Costs

Ryanair has given notice of its intention to delist from the London Stock Exchange next month, saying the volume of trading did not justify the costs related to retaining an additional listing.

The Irish airline said on Nov.1 that it was planning to drop the listing due to a fall in trading volumes there, dealing a blow to London's status as a global financial centre after Brexit.

The move comes after its British shareholders' voting rights were restricted post-Brexit and followed miner BHP saying in August it would do away with its dual-listed structure and make Sydney its main listing.

Royal Dutch Shell's decision on Monday to scrap its dual share structure and move its head office to Britain from the Netherlands has also renewed focus on dual listings, which are often criticised as both complex and expensive.

Ryanair said the last day of trading of its shares on the LSE would be Dec. 17.

Ryanair said it will continue to hold a primary listing on Euronext Dublin and list its American Depository Receipts (ADRs) on the U.S. Nasdaq. In 2012, it downgraded its listing on the LSE from premium to standard.

Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said last month that Brexit had pushed EU stock ownership of the company below 50% - given the Britain is no longer part of the bloc - and that the European Commission wanted it "to be seen to be taking action."

Ryanair had said in 2020 that UK nationals, like other non-EU nationals, would from January 2021 no longer be permitted to acquire its ordinary shares - a decision taken to ensure the airline remains majority EU-owned and retains full licensing and flight rights in the bloc after Brexit.

Ryanair CEO Sees Fraught Year End Due To COVID-19 Concerns

European airlines are in for a fraught period between now and the end of the year due to renewed COVID-19 concerns that will disrupt Christmas travel and early summer holiday bookings, Ryanair Group Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said on Tuesday November 23.

Tighter restrictions in many countries and a reimposed lockdown in Austria - the first in western Europe since vaccines were rolled out - has raised the spectre of a second straight winter of tough curbs throughout the continent.

"Up until last weekend, things were going great. Volumes were back running at about 100% of our pre-COVID price volumes. It has been disrupted by the Austrian lockdown and there is a renewed concern across Europe about a fourth or firth wave of COVID," O'Leary told an online event

"I think we're in for a fraught period between now and Christmas where it looks like Europe is going to get very nervous again at the worst time of the year when people are making their Christmas travel plans."

"I think it's inevitable we will undermine confidence between now and Christmas, and that will disrupt Christmas and also unsettle people between Christmas and New Year when they would normally start booking their summer holidays."

O'Leary said earlier this month that while winter would be tough, he hoped that keeping prices low and passenger numbers high over that period would set Europe's largest low cost airline up for a very strong recovery in the summer of 2022.

He reiterated on Tuesday November 23 that it was inevitable air fares will increase into the summer of 2022 and the Irish carrier hoped to get back to pre-pandemic pricing levels.

News by Reuters, edited by Hospitality Ireland. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.

Ryanair Launches Summer 2022 Schedule For Ireland

In a statement published on corporate.ryanair.com, Ryanair said, "Ryanair, Europe's no. 1 airline, today (23 Nov) announced its highly anticipated Irish S'22 schedule - its biggest yet - opening four new routes [180 in total] to a host of exciting European destinations. Irish holidaymakers will rejoice with sunny hotspots, such as Madeira, Venice and Malta available with fares from just €29.99. The opening of these four new routes across Ryanair's three airport bases in Ireland reinforces the airline's commitment to Ireland and the rebuilding of the country’s tourism industry, playing a key role in the recovery of local jobs and economy.

"Ryanair is leading Europe's traffic recovery as the airline plans to deliver accelerated growth in both traffic and jobs over the next 5 years. Having added 560 new routes and opened 14 bases throughout the last 12 months, Ryanair is now looking ahead to S’22 and the addition of 65 new B737-8200 'Gamechanger' aircraft to its fleet, which offer 4% more seats, 16% less fuel and a 40% reduction in noise emissions, making the S'22 schedule the most sustainable and environmentally friendly to date. Adding to its green credentials, Ryanair has launched electric handling at 11 major European airports - a significant investment in its sustainable operations.

"To celebrate the launch of its S'22 schedule, Ryanair has launched a limited-time seat sale with fares available from just €29.99 for travel until the end of October '22. These fares are sure to be snapped up quickly, so make sure to log onto Ryanair.com before midnight Thursday, 25 November and make up for the lost summers of 2020 and 2021 with a well-deserved summer getaway to the likes of Madeira, Venice or Malta.

"Ryanair's Irish S'22 schedule will deliver:

"Ryanair's Director of Commercial, Jason McGuinness, said, 'We are pleased to announce our Irish S'22 schedule - our biggest yet - offering our customers even more amazing European destinations. Following two summers of on and off again travel restrictions, our Irish customers now have four new routes to choose from when booking their long-awaited S'22 holidays. Whether planning a relaxing family getaway to the picturesque villages of Malta, an adventurous trip to the mountain hike trails of Madeira or a romantic city break to Venice, our S'22 schedule will not disappoint.

"'To celebrate, we have launched a limited-time seat sale with fares from just €29.99 for travel until the end of October ‘22, which must be booked by midnight Thursday, 25 November. With air fares set to increase by S’22 due to reduced capacity, we are encouraging our customers to book early and avail of these lower fares available only on Ryanair.com.'"

Ryanair To Open Madeira Airport Base

In a separate statement published on corporate.ryanair.com, Ryanair said, "Ryanair, Europe's largest and greenest airline, today (23^rd Nov) announced the opening of its fifth base in Portugal with 2 new based aircraft, representing an investment of $200m alongside the introduction of 10 new routes - connecting Madeira with mainland Portugal and with 6 other European countries, positioning the region as a leading tourism destination.

"Ryanair's new Summer '22 Madeira base will deliver:

• "$200m investment
• "2 based aircraft
• "60 direct jobs
• "over 40 departing flights per week
• "10 new routes - more than any other airline

"Ryanair's new base at Madeira represents its commitment to Portugal and further demonstrates Ryanair's ability to rapidly rebuild Portugal's tourism industry, with over 40 weekly flights across 10 new routes, including 5 exclusive routes, next Summer. Ryanair will operate over 160 Portuguese routes next Summer (over twice as many as TAP), to 15 countries, making Ryanair Portugal's number one carrier for choice, fares and on time performance.

"To celebrate the opening of its new Madeira base, Ryanair is launching an exciting seat sale with fares from just €29.99 for next Summer - fantastic news for those planning a relaxing summer holiday or an adventurous weekend excursion to Madeira. Known for its famously fine wine and stunning scenic mountain trails, these amazingly low fares are available until Thursday 25^th November only, on Ryanair.com.

"NEW SUMMER '22 ROUTES TO MADEIRA

"Ryanair's CEO, Eddie Wilson, said, 'We are delighted to announce the opening of our new base in Madeira, which will deliver increased connectivity with 2 based aircraft and 40 weekly flights across 10 new routes, connecting Madeira with cities such as London, Paris, Dublin, Milan and Manchester on a year round basis. This $200m investment will not only boost Portugal’s economy by driving vital tourism but will also create more than 60 direct jobs in the region and over 400 on-site jobs in Madeira.

"'Efficient operations and competitive airport charges provide the foundation from which Ryanair can deliver long-term traffic growth and increased connectivity. We worked closely with our partners in Madeira airport, Tourism de Portugal and APM to secure this growth and improve the services for those that live, work, or wish to visit the region.

"'At a time when other airlines are reducing their fleets and closing bases, we are delighted to continue to invest in both our people and airports in Portugal. We urge the Portuguese Govt. to do likewise by opening Lisbon-Montijo, scrapping the ill-timed aviation tax (which is a direct tax on tourism) and introducing a non-discriminatory traffic recovery scheme.  All of which could be easily funded with the €3.2bn of wasteful state aid granted to the small zombie airline TAP, by the Portuguese Govt.

"'Ryanair will operate over 160 Portuguese routes next Summer (over twice as many as TAP), to 15 countries, making Ryanair Portugal's number one carrier for choice, fares and on time performance.  To celebrate, we are launching a seat sale with fares available from €29.99 for travel next Summer, which must be booked by Thursday 25^th November. Since these amazing low fares will be snapped up quickly, customers should log onto www.ryanair.com now to avoid missing out.'"

"'ANA- VINCI Airports' CEO, Thierry Ligonnière, said, 'The announcement of Ryanair's base in Madeira for the summer of 2022 is excellent news for the Autonomous Region of Madeira. This base is the result of a partnership with Ryanair, the Madeira Tourism Promotion Association and the Portuguese Tourism Board. In addition to reinforcing the existing partnership between VINCI and Ryanair, this base will allow, through the opening of 5 new routes in 2022, a significant increase in Madeira’s connectivity, boosting the diversification of tourist markets, so important for the recovery and growth of tourism in the region.'"

Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.