1 NEW AIRCRAFT & 9% TRAFFIC GROWTH THANKS TO HIGH COURT SUSPENSION OF ILLEGAL TRAFFIC CAP
CALLS ON “DO NOTHING” GOVT TO SCRAP CAP “ASAP”, NOT “NEXT YEAR”
Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Thurs, 25 Sept) unveiled its Dublin W25 schedule with 96 routes, incl. one exciting new route to Rabat (Morocco’s winter sun capital), as well as extra frequencies on 28 other routes, like Birmingham, Budapest, Krakow, Milan, and Valencia. To support this growth, Ryanair will base another B737 “Gamechanger” aircraft ($100m invest) at Dublin, bringing its total Dublin-based fleet to 35 ($3.5billion invest).
Ryanair’s W25 growth at Dublin is only possible thanks to the High Court’s suspension of Dublin’s (2007) illegal 32m traffic cap – in a case the Irish airlines were forced to take because our Govt failed to scrap the cap themselves. Sadly, Michael Martin’s new Govt (with a 20-seat majority) promised in its January Prog. for Govt to scrap this illegal cap “as soon as possible”, but 9 months later, there has been zero action by this “do nothing” Govt or its “do nothing” Transport Minister. Incredibly, while this new Govt sits on its hands, doing nothing, the stupid bureaucrats at An Bord Pleanála have invented a second illegal “movements” cap be imposed on Dublin Airport – this time on “night-time arrivals” between 5AM and 7AM, which will disrupt existing transatlantic arrivals and further damage Ireland’s traffic, tourism, jobs, and economic growth.
Ryanair calls on Michael Martin, Simon Harris, and the rest of this “do nothing” Govt to immediately abolish these 2 illegal traffic caps at Dublin Airport “ASAP”, as they promised in their Prog. for Govt and not “next year”, which will be 2 years after they were elected.
In addition to launching its Dublin W25 schedule, Ryanair today unveiled its new corporate gift cards, just in time for Christmas! These premium gift cards can be gifted by Irish companies, to their employees, are tax-free up to €1,500. They will be personalised with your company logo and can be delivered directly to your office (although not by Santa himself!). Visit Ryanair.com for more info.
Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary said:
“Thanks to the High Court’s suspension of the illegal 32m Dublin traffic cap, Ryanair has added 1 new aircraft and 9% traffic growth at Dublin Airport for 2025 – the first Winter that Ryanair has been able to grow Dublin traffic since the IAA enforced this illegal cap in 2024. While this is good news for Irish passengers, tourism, and jobs, we and other airlines need this illegal cap to be urgently abolished by Govt if we are to continue to invest in and grow Dublin traffic. In January (9 months ago), the new Govt promised to scrap the cap “ASAP”, yet last week we were told that it could take until next year (2 years of dither and delay)! We call on Michael Martin, Simon Harris and their “do nothing” Govt to take immediate action and scrap these illegal caps NOW. Every week of delay is another week of lost tourism, lost jobs, and lost growth that goes elsewhere in Europe, where there are no illegal traffic caps on airport growth.
On top of our Dublin W25 schedule, Ryanair has today launched our new corporate Christmas gift cards. Companies can now gift up to €1,500 worth of Ryanair flights, tax-free, to their employees this Christmas. Ryanair offers lower fares and more routes than any other airline in Europe, which puts our tax-free gift cards at the top of each and every person’s Santa list this Christmas. The only gift we all want from Micheál Martin and Simon Harris this Christmas is to keep their promise to scrap the illegal Dublin traffic cap ASAP, and certainly before Rudolph arrives on the 24th Dec next. Ho Ho Ho.”
2 AIRCRAFT ($200M INVEST.), 23 ROUTES AND MORE THAN 1M PASSENGERS P.A. FOLLOWING SICILIAN REGION’S SCRAPPING THE MUNICIPAL TAX
Ryanair, Europe and Italy’s No.1 airline, today (24 Sep) announced it is opening a new base at Trapani-Marsala from Jan ’26. This follows the Sicilian Region’s decision to scrap the Municipal Tax at smaller Sicilian airports. Trapani-Marsala will become Ryanair’s third Sicilian base (20th in Italy) further enhancing connectivity and the availability of low fares for Sicilian residents across the Island. This $200m new aircraft investment in Trapani-Marsala will create over 800 local jobs, 23 exciting routes, (incl. 11 new to major European destinations), and +260k (+25%) additional seats enhancing year-round connectivity, tourism, and jobs growth – all at Europe’s lowest fares.
The direct and immediate impact that reduced access costs have on airports is demonstrated by the record traffic growth Ryanair is already delivering to Abruzzo, Calabria, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. At larger Sicilian airports (Catania & Palermo), where the Municipal Tax still applies, there remains significant potential to further increase connectivity, particularly on key routes such as Rome and Milan. Scrapping the Municipal Tax also at these airports will unlock additional capacity, attract new routes, and ensure year-round connectivity, bringing wider economic benefits to the Island.
Ryanair welcomes the efforts of President Schifani and the Sicilian Govt in enhancing regional connectivity and congratulates them on the important decision to scrap the Municipal Tax at smaller Sicilian airports. Now is the right time to take a further step and abolish the Municipal Tax at all Sicilian airports to boost year-round connectivity and deliver lower fares for Sicilian citizens and visitors. This would activate Ryanair’s Sicilian growth plan, delivering 3 million additional passengers p.a., up to 5 additional based aircraft, and creating thousands of new local jobs.
Ryanair’s new Trapani-Marsala base will deliver:
- 2 new B737 a/c – $200M invest. (1 in W25 and 2 in S26)
- 23 tot. routes, incl. 11 new to Baden-Baden, Bari, Bratislava, Bournemouth, Brussels, Katowice, London, Pescara, Saarbrücken, Stockholm & Verona.
- Traffic grows to more than 1M pax p.a.
- +10% increase in capacity to Rome & Milan
- Supp. over 800 local jobs
- Increased year-round connectivity, more tourism, more jobs and lower fares.
To celebrate its new Trapani-Marsala base, Ryanair has launched a 3-day seat sale with fares from €21.99 on sale only at ryanair.com.
In Trapani, Ryanair’s CEO Eddie Wilson said:
“As Europe and Italy’s No.1 airline, Ryanair is delighted to announce this major investment at Trapani-Marsala with the opening of a new base from Jan ‘26. We’ve worked closely with both the Regional Govt. and Airgest team to deliver this exciting investment. Since first flying to Sicily in 2003 Ryanair has carried 100 million passengers to/from Sicily, our new Trapani-Marsala base will deliver 2 new aircraft, 23 routes (11 new), more than 1 million passengers annually, and support over 800 local jobs. By connecting Trapani directly with nine countries incl. Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the UK, and with major Italian cities such as Pescara, Pisa, Turin, plus +10% incr. capacity to Milan & Rome, this new base will significantly enhance international accessibility and deliver true year-round connectivity, driving inbound tourism and ensuring Trapani and the wider region benefit from a consistent flow of visitors and sustained economic growth throughout the year.
Ryanair welcomes President Schifani and Sicilian Govt’s decision to scrap the Municipal Tax at the smaller Sicilian airports, and now is the right time to take the next step. Extending this measure to all Sicilian airports would unlock further connectivity, deliver lower fares, and strengthen year-round connectivity for Sicilian citizens and visitors. This will allow Ryanair to deliver transformative traffic, tourism, and jobs growth for Sicily, delivering 3 million additional passengers per year, 5 new aircraft, expanded routes to mainland Italy and international destinations, and thousands of new local jobs.
We also urge the Italian Government to scrap the Municipal Tax at all Italian airports to stimulate capacity, reduce fares, and drive economic growth. Should the Government act, Ryanair is ready to invest $4bn in Italy, adding 40 new aircraft, 20 million additional passengers, and over 250 new routes.”
Councillor for Infrastructure and Mobility of Sicily Region, Alessandro Arico’, said:
“A historic day for air transport in Sicily, as it marks a new and more exciting chapter in relations with one of the major international players in air travel, Ryanair. Thanks to the elimination of the municipal surtax, strongly advocated by the Schifani Government, air traffic to Sicilian airports will be incentivized by up to 5 million passengers. This will boost the economic and tourism development of the region, and above all benefit travelers, who will enjoy lower fares and new destinations made possible by the new agreement with the airline. The deal includes the establishment of a new Ryanair base in Trapani, 23 new routes, and a projected increase in passenger traffic of over 1 million by 2026. All of this is part of a broader strategy to relaunch Sicily’s airports, which also includes territorial continuity measures for Comiso (starting November 1), Lampedusa, and Pantelleria. Along with Trapani, Palermo, and Catania, these airports together form Italy’s third-largest regional airport system”.
Airgest’s President, Salvatore Ombra, said:
“The return of Ryanair’s base to Trapani Airport is not just a milestone — it is the milestone. It comes after a 10-year absence of the Irish airline from the airport, an absence that was deeply felt and had repercussions throughout the region. During the revival project of Vincenzo Florio Airport, which began six years ago, we faced all kinds of challenges — even the Covid pandemic got in the way. But what never wavered was our determination, our drive to act, and the support of an enlightened regional government that chose to stand by the people of Trapani and their airport. We were right to champion the removal of the municipal tax, and just a few months later, we are seeing the results. Ryanair has kept its commitment to base two aircraft in Birgi, which has led to an increase in routes. We would like to thank the President of the Sicilian Region, Renato Schifani, as well as the Regional Ministers for Transport, Alessandro Aricò, and for Economy, Alessandro Dagnino, who made this possible. And this is just the beginning — many more projects are in the pipeline for the modernization of the airport terminal”.
ENSURING A SEAMLESS SWITCH OVER AFTER THE BUSY MID-TERM BREAK
Ryanair, Europe’s No. 1 airline, today (Wed, 24 Sept) confirmed that it will move to 100% digital boarding passes from Wed Nov 12th instead of Monday Nov 3rd, ensuring a seamless transition for customers in the less busy travel period after the mid-term break.
Ryanair’s switch to 100% digital boarding passes means that from Nov 12th passengers will no longer be able to download and print a physical paper boarding pass but will instead need to use the digital boarding pass generated in their “myRyanair” app during check-in to board their Ryanair flight.
This is the latest step in Ryanair’s industry leading digital transformation, having already rolled out several in-app features and initiatives to enhance its 206M+ customers’ travel experience (especially during disruption), including:
- Order to Seat: Order food and drinks from your phone and get served first.
- Live Flight Information: Real-time updates on boarding, gates, and delays.
- Direct Disruption Updates: Live notifications from Ryanair’s Operations Centre during disruption.
Almost 80% of Ryanair’s 206M+ passengers already use digital boarding passes. Ryanair’s move to 100% digital boarding passes from Nov 12th follows other key tickets industries (like festivals, music, and sport events) which have successfully switched to digital-only ticketing.
Ryanair CMO, Dara Brady, said:
“To ensure a seamless transition to 100% digital boarding passes for our customers, we will make the switch from Wed Nov 12th, which is traditionally a slightly quieter time for travel following the busy mid-term break period. Ryanair’s move to 100% digital boarding passes will mean a faster, smarter, and greener travel experience for our customers, streamlined through our best-in-class “myRyanair” app, where passengers will also benefit from helpful in-app features, like Order to Seat and live flight information.”
FRENCH ATC STRIKE (18 SEP) DISRUPTS 35,000 RYANAIR PASSENGERS AND COUNTING
Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Thurs, 18 Sep) called on EU President, Ursula von “Derlayed-Again”, to urgently reform EU ATC to protect overflights during national ATC strikes or quit. This comes as over 190 Ryanair flights and 35,000 Ryanair passengers suffered avoidable delays of up to 3 hours today due to yet another French ATC strike.
70% of the flights disrupted by today’s French strikes were overflights. These flights are not even flying to/from France but flying across French airspace. It is inexcusable that the thousands of EU citizens on these overflights (travelling from London to Rome or Athens to Dublin, etc. – not France) are forced to suffer delays due to a French strike over the national budget – a matter that has nothing to do with them! It is even more absurd that these overflight delays could have been avoided if Ursula von der Leyen had taken any action over the last 6 years to defend the Single Market for air travel by separating the upper air space, and allowing Eurocontrol to manage overflights during national ATC strikes.
The Draghi Report on competitiveness was published in Sept 2024, highlighting the multi-billion cost of ATC inefficiencies and flight delays. Despite promising urgent action on the Draghi Report, Ursula von der Leyen has done nothing to reform the EU’s broken ATC system. Europe’s airlines are united in calling for 2 effective reforms; (1) mandate that national ATC services are fully staffed for the first wave of morning flights or face fines, and (2) the EU Comm acts to protect overflights during national ATC strikes.
French unions have called for another strike from 7-9 Oct, during which Europe’s airlines will be forced to cancel and delay hundreds more flights overflying France. Ursula von der Leyen must now take urgent action to protect these EU citizens and the Single Market from being shut down by French ATC unions.
Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary said:
“Yet again today, thousands of EU passengers – the vast majority of whom are travelling on overflights – have had their travel plans needlessly disrupted by French ATC strikes while Ursula von “Derlayed-Again” sits on her hands doing squat. Six years as Commission President and she has done nothing to fix the EU’s broken ATC system despite Europe’s airlines handing her simple solutions; (1) require that national ATC services are fully staffed for the first wave of morning flights, and (2) protect overflights (and the Single Market) during national ATC strikes.
If President von “Derlayed-Again” won’t protect overflights during national ATC strikes, then she should step aside and let someone competent do the job. Europe needs reform and competitiveness. We don’t need useless politicians promising reform but doing nothing. Passengers flying from London to Rome or Brussels to Madrid shouldn’t be held hostage every time there’s a national ATC strike because Ursula von “Derlayed-Again” won’t do her job!”
REAFFIRMING RYANAIR’S ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY ON PASSENGER MISCONDUCT
Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Wed, 17 Sept) welcomed the decision by the Alicante Courts to convict an unruly passenger who disrupted flight FR7567 from Ibiza to Alicante on 4 June 2025 by physically assaulting a crew member onboard. This disruptive passenger was found guilty in court and fined €270.
Ryanair is committed to ensuring that all passengers and crew travel in a comfortable and stress-free environment free of unnecessary disruption caused by a tiny number of unruly passengers. Ryanair has a strict zero tolerance policy towards passenger misconduct and will continue to take action to combat unruly passenger behaviour on aircraft for the benefit of the vast majority of passengers who do not disrupt flights.
Ryanair’s Director of Communications, Jade Kirwan, said:
“We welcome the Alicante Court’s conviction of this unruly passenger whose inexcusable behaviour disrupted a flight from Ibiza to Alicante in June last. This demonstrates just one of the many consequences that passengers who disrupt flights will face as part of Ryanair’s zero tolerance policy. We hope this will further deter disruptive behaviour on flights so that both passengers and crew can travel in a comfortable and respectful environment.”
700 RYANAIR FLIGHTS AND 125,000 RYANAIR PASSENGERS FACING CANCELLATIONS NEXT WEEK
Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Fri, 12Sep) called on Commission President Ursula “Von Derlayed-Again” to take urgent action to protect all EU overflights during 2 days of French ATC strikes on 17 / 18 Sept next. Already, Ryanair has been notified that it may be required by French ATC to cancel up to 700 overflights across France over those 2 days, cancelling the flights of more than 125,000 Ryanair passengers. These overflight cancellations would be avoided, if Ursula von der Leyen had taken any action over the last 2 years to separate the upper air space and allow Eurocontrol to manage overflights during national ATC strikes, as Airlines 4 Europe (A4E) has repeatedly called for. President von der Leyen wrongly claims that ATC is a “National Competence”, when overflights are a Single Market Competence, and therefore subject to protection by the EU Commission.
When the Draghi Report was published in Sept 2024, it highlighted the multi-billion cost of ATC inefficiencies and flight delays. Despite promising urgent action on the Draghi Report, Ursula von der Leyen has done nothing over the last 12 months to reform the EU’s broken ATC system. Europe’s airlines are united in calling for 2 effective reforms (1) require that national ATC services are fully staffed for the first wave of morning flights (no action taken) and (2) that the EU Commission protects overflights during national ATC strikes (again no action taken). This would not infringe the right of French Air Traffic Controllers to go on strike, but it would protect those flights that are only flying “over” France on 17 and 18 Sept next.
Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary said:
“As usual, Ursula von der Leyen has done nothing over the last 12 months on the Draghi Report or ATC reform. Europe’s airlines are agreed on 2 simple and effective reforms, namely (1) ensuring that national ATC providers are fully staffed for the first daily wave of departures and (2) protecting overflights during national ATC strikes. President von der Leyen, who talks a lot about efficiency and competitiveness has repeatedly failed to do anything about it. It is not too late for her to stop talking and start doing. She needs now to authorise Eurocontrol to oversee all overflights over France on 17 and 18 of Sept next, so that thousands of European flights and millions of European passengers do not have their flights delayed or cancelled, because a small number of French Air Traffic Controllers wish to go on strike. The French can go on strike, but Europe must protect overflights, which are a Single Market Competence and not a “National Competence” as Ursula von der Leyen repeatedly claims.
Over the last 5 years, President von der Leyen has proven to be useless in promoting competitiveness or efficiency in Europe. Under her leadership European consumers suffer the highest enviro costs (while we exempt non-European airlines from their fair share of Enviro Taxes), the most burdensome regulation and the world’s least efficient ATC services. Thus far she has been useless at delivering ATC reform, and we call on her again today: Protect overflights next week or resign! If you are not willing to protect the Single Market, then return to Germany, to allow somebody competent to deliver efficiency and competitiveness and protect the Single Market for air travel.”
Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Thurs, 11 Sept) announced its partnership agreement with Skyscanner, which guarantees that Skyscanner will now have direct access to Ryanair content, offering customers Ryanair’s low-fare flights to travellers as part of their dynamic product offerings.
This partnership is great news for Skyscanner customers who want to access Ryanair’s low fares, unbeatable choice of 235+ destinations, and impeccable service. Similar to Ryanair’s existing agreements, this new deal ensures that travellers searching for Ryanair flights via Skyscanner will have full price transparency of Ryanair’s flight and ancillary products.
Ryanair’s CMO, Dara Brady, said:
“We are pleased to announce our partnership agreement with Skyscanner –through this new agreement, Skyscanner customers will be able to search for Ryanair’s low-fare flights with the guarantee of full price transparency. We look forward to working with Skyscanner over the coming months.”
Catriona King, VP of Commercial, Skyscanner, said:
“We aim to give our travellers access to the best prices and widest choice, to take the hassle out of trip planning. Partnering with Ryanair will give our millions of travellers direct access to its vast route network for further travel inspiration and help them explore exciting destinations.”