HighSpeedClimb
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Ryanair
Ryanair planning low-cost transatlantic airline
Ryanair is planning to launch a new low-fare transatlantic airline that could allow passengers to fly to the US for as little as €10 (£7). Speaking to Flight International magazine, the airline's chief executive, Michael O'Leary, said that the recently-brokered Open Skies agreement between the EU and the US would allow for a new no-frills service.
Within the next three or four years, Ryanair plans to launch a new airline that would act independently and make use of a fleet of up to 50 Airbus A350s or Boeing 787s to locations in North America.
Following the low-cost model, the new carrier would allow for extremely cheap tickets by flying to secondary airports such as Baltimore and New York Long Island Islip Macarthur, and selling in-flight extras such as food, drink, duty-free items and entertainment.
"By mid-2009, we will be carrying 70 million passengers at 23 bases across Europe," O'Leary said. "It will be relatively straightforward for us to do a deal for 40 to 50 long-haul aircraft and connect these bases transatlantically. There would be no-one to touch us."
The flights would also include a premium service for passengers wanting a little more luxury.
Low-cost long-haul services are likely to become more commonplace in the next few years. Last year Oasis Hong Kong Airlines made headlines after offering flights to the Far East for as little as £75 one-way, and the Open Skies deal has thrown the transatlantic market open to more competition - meaning cheaper tickets.
Ryanair planning low-cost transatlantic airline
Ryanair is planning to launch a new low-fare transatlantic airline that could allow passengers to fly to the US for as little as €10 (£7). Speaking to Flight International magazine, the airline's chief executive, Michael O'Leary, said that the recently-brokered Open Skies agreement between the EU and the US would allow for a new no-frills service.
Within the next three or four years, Ryanair plans to launch a new airline that would act independently and make use of a fleet of up to 50 Airbus A350s or Boeing 787s to locations in North America.
Following the low-cost model, the new carrier would allow for extremely cheap tickets by flying to secondary airports such as Baltimore and New York Long Island Islip Macarthur, and selling in-flight extras such as food, drink, duty-free items and entertainment.
"By mid-2009, we will be carrying 70 million passengers at 23 bases across Europe," O'Leary said. "It will be relatively straightforward for us to do a deal for 40 to 50 long-haul aircraft and connect these bases transatlantically. There would be no-one to touch us."
The flights would also include a premium service for passengers wanting a little more luxury.
Low-cost long-haul services are likely to become more commonplace in the next few years. Last year Oasis Hong Kong Airlines made headlines after offering flights to the Far East for as little as £75 one-way, and the Open Skies deal has thrown the transatlantic market open to more competition - meaning cheaper tickets.
