Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Fri, 31 Jan) added extra flights from Shannon to La Rochelle ahead of the highly anticipated European Rugby Champions Cup match between Munster and La Rochelle taking place in the Stade Marcel-Deflandre on Sat, 5 April.

There’s nothing quite like the electrifying atmosphere of a stadium packed with thousands of passionate fans, all eagerly awaiting the action to unfold. Don’t miss out on the match-day excitement, secure your Ryanair flight from Shannon to La Rochelle today.

These European Rugby Champions Cup extras are available to book now at ryanair.com.

Ryanair’s Head of Comms, Jade Kirwan said:

“Ryanair has good news for Munster Rugby fans looking to soak up the atmosphere at the highly anticipated European Rugby Champions Cup match against La Rochelle in the Stade Marcel-Deflandre on Saturday, 5 April, with the addition of extra Ryanair flights between Shannon and La Rochelle that Saturday (5 April) and Sunday (6 April).

These are available to book now at Ryanair.com, so make sure to get them before they’re gone!”

DENMARK LOSES 1.7M SEATS, 32 ROUTES, AND 2 AIRCRAFT FOR SUMMER 2025 AS RYANAIR SWITCHES CAPACITY TO COMPETING EU COUNTRIES WITH NO HARMFUL AVIATION TAXES

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Fri, 31 Jan) announced that it will close its 2 aircraft Billund base (a loss of $200m investment) and cut all routes to/from Aalborg from the end of March, in response to the Govt’s short-sighted decision to introduce an aviation tax of up to DKK 50 per departing passenger from Jan 2025, coupled with Billund’s failure to agree a competitive long-term agreement.

Denmark is one of the few EU countries that has yet to recover its pre-Covid traffic at just 95% of 2019 levels. This harmful aviation tax will further damage Denmark’s connectivity, tourism jobs and economy by making Denmark (particularly regional airports) hopelessly uncompetitive compared to competing EU countries like Sweden, Italy, and Hungary who are abolishing their aviation taxes to promote connectivity, traffic, jobs, and economic growth. In stark contrast, Denmark has bizarrely introduced an aviation tax, which has resulted in the loss of over 1.7m seats, 32 routes and 2 aircraft, as well as associated investment and jobs.

Ryanair’s Billund based pilots and cabin crew have been notified of this base closure, and they are being offered similar positions at other bases within the Ryanair Group network.

A Ryanair spokesperson said:

“We are very disappointed to announce the closure of our 2 aircraft Billund base and our operations at Aalborg from the end of March, but we have been left with no other choice following the Danish Govt’s short-sighted decision to introduce a harmful aviation tax from Jan 2025.

Ryanair is the only major airline growing in Europe, and cost is the main factor when deciding where to allocate aircraft and growth. Unfortunately, this harmful aviation tax makes Denmark (especially regional Denmark) hopelessly uncompetitive compared to other EU countries, like Sweden, Hungary, and Italian regions, who are abolishing aviation taxes to stimulate traffic recovery and growth. As a result, Denmark’s connectivity, traffic, jobs, economic recovery, and growth will suffer irreparable damage – particularly in regional airports where they are reliant on efficient, low-cost air travel – as this capacity (1.7m seats, 32 routes, and 2 aircraft) is reallocated to lower cost airports elsewhere in the extensive Ryanair Group.”

FLUG MUSS 20 MINUTEN NACH BEGINN DES NACHTFLUGVERBOTS IN BERLIN UMGELEITET WERDEN

Ryanair, Europas Fluggesellschaft Nr. 1, forderte heute (Donnerstag, 30. Januar) Verkehrsminister Wissing auf, dringend Maßnahmen zu ergreifen, nachdem der Flug FR1143 von Lissabon nach Hannover umgeleitet wurde, weil die Flugsicherung die Landung innerhalb von 20 Minuten nach Beginn des Nachtflugverbots am Berliner Flughafen verweigert hatte. Die ursprüngliche Verspätung war auf eine vorausgegangene technische Störung in Lissabon zurückzuführen, die durch den Umstieg der Passagiere auf ein Ersatzflugzeug minimiert werden konnte. Trotz der Bemühungen von Ryanair, die Unannehmlichkeiten so gering wie möglich zu halten, verweigerte die deutsche Flugsicherung die Erlaubnis zur Landung in Berlin, sodass die Fluggäste stattdessen drei Stunden lang mit dem Bus von Hannover nach Berlin fahren mussten und erst nach 4:00 Uhr morgens am Berliner Flughafen ankamen. Es ist völlig inakzeptabel, dass Fluggästen, die hart arbeiten, um eine Reise mit Familie/Freunden zu genießen, dieses Vergnügen genommen wird, weil die Flugsicherung keine angemessene Flexibilität bietet, damit Fluggesellschaften wie Ryanair die Passagiere ohne unnötige und störende Umwege zu ihrem Endziel – dem Berliner Flughafen – bringen können.

Ryanair hat mehrfach gefordert, dass die Flugsicherung aufgrund der Störungen, die sie den Fluggästen zufügt, mit einem gewissen Konsens agiert, und fordert nun Verkehrsminister Dr. Volker Wissing auf, dringend Maßnahmen zu ergreifen, um diese Situation am Berliner Flughafen im Interesse der Fluggäste zu beheben, die einfach nur von A nach B gelangen wollen, ohne unnötige und unverhältnismäßige Störungen zu erleiden.

Ein Ryanair Sprecher sagte:

„Es ist ein Skandal, dass Fluggäste gezwungen sind unter vermeidbaren Störungen zu leiden, weil die Berliner Flugsicherung sich weigert, Fluggesellschaften wie Ryanair eine angemessene Flexibilität einzuräumen, um Fluggäste zu ihrem Zielflughafen zu befördern. In diesem Fall sollte der Flug FR1143 aus Lissabon weniger als 20 Minuten nach Beginn des Nachtflugverbots auf dem Berliner Flughafen landen, doch die Flugsicherung verweigerte die Landeerlaubnis. Dieser Flug, der nur wegen eines unvermeidlichen technischen Problems mit dem Flugzeug in Lissabon verspätet war, wurde stattdessen nach Hannover umgeleitet, so dass den Fluggästen keine andere Wahl blieb, als drei Stunden lang mit Bussen nach Berlin zu fahren und erst nach 4:00 Uhr morgens in Berlin anzukommen. 

Wir ermutigen alle Passagiere, die durch die übermäßig strenge Nachtflugregelung des Berliner Flughafens beeinträchtigt wurden, sich mit Verkehrsminister Dr. Volker Wissing in Verbindung zu setzen und ihn aufzufordern, dringend Maßnahmen zu ergreifen, um die Flugsicherung zu reformieren und diese Situation am Berliner Flughafen im Interesse aller deutschen Passagiere zu beheben, die einfach nur von A nach B kommen wollen, ohne unnötige und unverhältnismäßige Beeinträchtigungen hinnehmen zu müssen.“

CREATING 200 NEW ENGINEERS AND MECHANIC JOBS

Ryanair, Ireland’s No. 1 airline, today (Wed, 29 Jan) began construction of its new €40 million aircraft maintenance facility at Dublin Airport. This state-of-the-art 4 bay hangar will create over 200 new highly paid and high skilled jobs for engineers and mechanics.

Ryanair’s new 120,000sq foot hangar will facilitate the heavy and line maintenance of Ryanair’s growing fleet as the airline continues to take delivery of more efficient new technology 737-8200 “Gamechanger” aircraft, which carry 4% more passengers while cutting CO2 emissions by 16% and noise by 40%. In addition to a more environmentally efficient fleet, Ryanair’s new hangar at Dublin will also be one of the most environmentally efficient hangars in the EU with gas absorption heat pumps reducing energy use by up to 35%.

For more information on Ryanair’s experienced and trainee engineer jobs in Dublin, please visit Ryanair’s careers page.

Speaking on-site at Dublin this morning, Ryanair COO, Neal McMahon, said:

“As Ireland’s No.1 airline, we are pleased to turn the sod today on our new aircraft maintenance facility at Dublin Airport, which will see Ryanair invest a further €40 million in Dublin, significantly expand of our current Dublin maintenance facility, and create over 200 highly paid jobs for engineers and mechanics.

Ryanair’s new state-of-the-art 120,000sq foot facility will be one of the most environmentally friendly hangars in Europe and will facilitate the maintenance of our growing fleet as we continue to take delivery of new technology 737-8200 “Gamechanger” aircraft (which cut CO2 by 16% and noise by 40%).

This is a fantastic opportunity for both experienced and trainee engineers and mechanics to join Ryanair and work with the biggest operator of Boeing 737s in Europe. For more information on these exciting new jobs, visit careers.ryanair.com.”

CALLS ON RACHEL REEVES TO SCRAP APD IF SHE WANTS GROWTH

Ryanair, the UK’s No.1 low fares airline, today (Wed, 29 Jan) announced its London Summer 2025 schedule with 206 routes, including 7 new routes from Stansted to Bodrum, Clermont-Ferrand, Dalaman, Münster, Lübeck, Linz & Reggio Calabria, as well as extra frequencies on 30 other London routes to Gdansk, Ibiza, Malaga, Milan, Rome, Turin, and Valencia. To support this traffic growth, Ryanair will base 1 new B737 in London Stansted for S25 – an additional $100m investment in London – bringing Ryanair’s total London-based fleet to 56 aircraft (an investment of $5.6bn) and creating 30 new highly paid jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers.

While Ryanair continues to grow traffic and tourism in London, regional UK connectivity and tourism is suffering under the new Labour Govt, which while “claiming” to champion growth, have bizarrely increased APD taxes on short-haul flights by £2 per passenger from 2026, which damages growth and makes the UK uncompetitive. This APD tax hike further penalises ordinary UK families travelling abroad on holidays and deters millions of potential visitors to the UK, who will travel instead to countries like Sweden, Spain, Portugal, and Italy, who are abolishing aviation taxes or are reducing airport fees to stimulate growth. The anti-growth increase in UK APD is damaging tourism and economic growth in the UK regions, and Ryanair calls on Rachel Reeves to immediately abolish this stupid APD tax, which will deliver immediate and dramatic growth across the regions.

Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary said:

“We are pleased to announce 7 new Summer 2025 routes from London to Bodrum, Clermont-Ferrand, Dalaman, Münster, Lübeck, Linz, and Reggio Calabria. We are also launching extra frequencies on 30 other London routes to exciting destinations like Gdansk, Ibiza, Malaga, and Rome.

Ryanair could be growing more rapidly to/from the UK, but Rachel Reeves bizarre decision to raise APD taxes by £2 per passenger damages the growth prospects of the UK, and in particular regional UK airports. Rachel Reeves is trying to distract people by floating a 3^rd runway at Heathrow (or a 2^nd at Gatwick), which even if approved, won’t arrive for 10 or 20 years, long after the life of this Labour Govt. If she is serious about delivering growth, then she should abolish the penal and damaging APD tax, which makes the UK uncompetitive when EU countries like Sweden, Hungary, Ireland, and regions in Italy are abolishing aviation taxes, and winning dramatic traffic, tourism, and jobs growth from the UK.

If Rachel Reeves is serious about growth, then stop wasting time talking about a 3^rd runway at Heathrow (which won’t deliver till 2030 or 2040), and instead do something useful to drive growth during the life of the current Labour Govt and abolish APD. This would deliver dramatic investment and growth in air travel, tourism, and economic activity, not just in London but across the UK regions. Sadly to date, the Labour Govt has raised taxes while it rewarded train drivers and junior doctors, but damages economic activity and growth with this APD tax hike.”

2 TRASY I NOWY KIERUNEK – DÜSSELDORF

Ryanair, linia lotnicza numer 1 w Europie i w Polsce, ogłosiła dziś (29 stycznia) swój rozkład lotów na lato 2025
z Lotniska Olsztyn-Mazury, obejmujący 2 trasy, w tym ekscytującą nowość – loty do Düsseldorfu. Dzięki tej ofercie mieszkańcy regionu Warmii i Mazur zyskają nowe możliwości zarówno podróży turystycznych, jak i biznesowych, korzystając z bezpośrednich połączeń w atrakcyjnych cenach.

Loty na nowej trasie do Düsseldorfu będą odbywały się dwa razy w tygodniu – w poniedziałki i piątki – począwszy od 31 marca 2025 r. Düsseldorf to jedno z najważniejszych centrów biznesowych w Niemczech, znane z rozwiniętego sektora finansowego, targów międzynarodowych oraz globalnych firm, które mają tam swoje siedziby. Dla przedsiębiorców i specjalistów trasa ta zapewni szybki i wygodny dostęp do kluczowych partnerów biznesowych i wydarzeń branżowych.

Jednocześnie Düsseldorf jest także atrakcyjną destynacją turystyczną, oferującą piękną architekturę, bogate życie kulturalne oraz malownicze promenady nad Renem. Dzięki temu nowa trasa doskonale wpisuje się w potrzeby zarówno podróży biznesowych, jak i turystycznych.

Ryanair kontynuuje swój rozwój w Polsce, szczególnie wspierając regionalne porty lotnicze, takie jak Olsztyn-Mazury. W tym roku linia zaoferuje 2 trasy, wspierając jednocześnie lokalną gospodarkę, turystykę oraz rynek pracy.

Letni rozkład Ryanair na lato 2025 dla lotniska Olsztyn-Mazury obejmuje:

• 2 trasy: Londyn Stansted oraz nową trasę do Düsseldorfu,
• loty odbywające się 4 razy w tygodniu (po 2 na każdej trasie),
• wsparcie dla lokalnego rynku pracy i rozwój turystyki w regionie.

Alicja Wójcik-Gołębiowska, Country Manager Ryanair na region CEE & Baltics:

„Z radością ogłaszamy letni rozkład lotów z lotniska Olsztyn – Mazury na lato 2025, który obejmuje nową trasę do Düsseldorfu. To dynamiczne niemieckie miasto jest nie tylko wspaniałym celem turystycznym, ale także jednym z najważniejszych centrów biznesowych w Europie. Jesteśmy przekonani, że nowe połączenie znacząco ułatwi podróże służbowe, umożliwiając szybki dostęp do kluczowych wydarzeń branżowych, targów oraz spotkań biznesowych.

Port Lotniczy Olsztyn-Mazury wykazuje ogromny potencjał, a my jesteśmy dumni, że możemy wspierać rozwój regionu, oferując więcej tras i nowych możliwości podróży – zarówno turystycznych, jak i biznesowych.

Aby uczcić letni rozkład lotów z Olsztyna, Ryanair uruchomił specjalną promocję na bilety już od 117 zł. Promocja obowiązuje przez 3 dni – od dziś (29 stycznia) – i jest dostępna wyłącznie na stronie ryanair.com. Nie przegapcie okazji, aby zarezerwować swoją letnią podróż już teraz!”

Wiktor Wójcik, Prezes Zarządu Warmia i Mazury Sp. z o.o.

„Uruchomienie nowego połączenia Ryanair do Düsseldorfu-Weeze to odpowiedź na potrzeby naszych pasażerów. Lokalizacja tego lotniska to idealny kompromis – daje mieszkańcom Warmii i Mazur wygodny dostęp zarówno do zachodnich Niemiec, jak i wschodniej Holandii. Wierzę, że to połączenie spotka się z dużym zainteresowaniem zarówno wśród osób podróżujących turystycznie czy biznesowo, jak i tych odwiedzających rodzinę czy znajomych”.

NO GROWTH AT ZAVENTEM DUE HIGH AIRPORT CHARGES

CALLS ON EU COMMISSION TO PRIORITISE COMPETITIVENESS

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Wed, 29 Jan) unveiled its Brussels Summer 2025 schedule with 132 routes, including 4 new Charleroi routes to Katowice, Nea Anchialos (Greece), Rome (Fiumicino), and Salerno, as well as extra frequencies on 40 other Charleroi routes like Dubrovnik, Faro, Marseille, Palma, Sarajevo, and Zadar.

Ryanair confirmed it will not grow again at Brussels Zaventem in 2025 due to the airport’s high charges, which have increased 20% since Covid and are due to rise again in 2025, making Brussels Zaventem hopelessly uncompetitive against airports across Europe who are lowering fees and charges to promote traffic growth.

Ryanair will, over the next decade, grow from 200m to 300m passengers p.a., but this growth must be facilitated by competitive reform from the EU Commission and national Govts for the benefit of EU citizens. Over the last decade, the EU has damaged the competitiveness of Airlines with penal aviation taxes, idiotic and expensive regulation and environmental measures which make air travel more expensive for customers, even as airlines invest $billions in new technology which dramatically reduces fuel consumption, CO2 and noise emissions. Ryanair called on the new Commission under Ursula von der Leyen to urgently address these issues as follows:

1. Reform Europe’s failed ATC system.
2. Modernise Europe’s outdated ownership and control rules.
3. Prevent national govts re-regulating air travel.
4. Scrap aviation taxes, which penalise EU citizens on short haul but exempt non-EU citizens on long haul routes.

Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary said:

“We are pleased to announce 4 new Ryanair routes from Charleroi this Summer. Charleroi continues to grow thanks to its competitive fees and efficient facilities. Meanwhile, Zaventem continues to stagnate and has failed to recover its pre-Covid traffic due to its expensive and rising fees, and its failure to compete for traffic recovery or growth.

We also call on the new Commission under Ursula von der Leyen to take urgent action to reform the competitiveness of EU aviation. As the Draghi Report recently highlighted, EU ATC is an abject failure. Airlines and passengers repeatedly suffer delays and cancellations because of routine short staffing by ATC providers, and the gross inefficiency of these protected govt monopolies. 90% of all flight delays would be eliminated if these ATC providers were obliged by law to fully staff the first wave of daily flights, and to protect over flights during national ATC strikes. Europe should also respond to the new challenges of the Trump Administration by abolishing aviation taxes, making air travel across Europe more competitive and affordable for citizens. This would help EU integration, and would stimulate air travel, tourism and economic growth in the peripheral states and regions of the European Union.

The Draghi Report highlighted the urgent need for ATC reform, yet the Commission has spent 20 years failing to deliver this reform, and it is time for change.

Europe is struggling to deliver growth. Aviation and tourism can lead the revival of growth on the Continent of Europe, but only when these damaging aviation taxes, incompetent ATC service, and our outdated ownership and control rules are modernised and reformed. Ryanair looks forward to leading this growth recovery in Europe, and we will continue to work with those countries and airports across Europe who are incentivising growth, rather than those countries, like the UK and Germany, where aviation taxes and fees are rising and traffic is stagnating.”