RyanAir to take a big step and cross the Atlantic

RyanAir, Europe's low cost carrier, recently announced plans to offer flights for as low as £7 between the United States and the UK. The most likely destinations for the airline's routes into the States are Baltimore, Providence, Rhode Island and New York Long Island. Once taxes and surcharges have been added, it is estimated the cost of a one way flight will be around £80.

The announcement comes after the signing of the Open Skies agreement between America and Europe. Previously, only four airlines have been able to operate between London Heathrow and New York City: British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines and American Airlines. Once the agreement comes into effect, routes between Europe and America will be open to any who wish to fly, starting next March.

In order to service the new flights, RyanAir is looking into purchasing a new fleet of 50 long-haul aircrafts, most likely Airbus A350s or Boeing 787s models. Like the existing RyanAir flights, the airline intends to make most of its profits on the sale of food, beverages, duty-free items and in-flight entertainment.

"By mid 2009, we will be carrying 70 million passengers at 23 bases across Europe, said Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary . "It will be relatively straightforward for us to do a deal for 40-50 long-haul aircraft and connect these bases trans-atlantically. There would be no-one to touch us."

RyanAir isn't the only airline capitalising on the new agreement. Zoom, a low cost airline offering flights between Europe and Canada plans to provide a new route between Gatwick and New York for roughly £129 one way, including taxes with flights beginning June 21st.


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Jennifer JonesEditorial


13/03/2007


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