Ryanair, Europe’s No 1 airline, has today (5 May) announced that it has added extra flights across multiple Irish routes incl. Glasgow – Dublin, Dublin – Glasgow, La Rochelle – Dublin, and Dublin – La Rochelle ahead of 2023’s highly anticipated Rugby European Challenge Cup final and Heineken Champions Cup final, both taking place in Dublin this month.

Secure your Ryanair flight and cheer on your team from a stadium seat for the ultimate match day experience.

Ryanair’s Jade Kirwan said:

“We’ve had record bookings from rugby fans travelling this year for what is set to be spectacular European Challenge Cup final and Heineken Champions Cup final, both taking place in Dublin this month. To fulfil this overwhelming demand, we have added extra flights across routes from to/from Ireland, Scotland, and France, including Glasgow – Dublin, Dublin – Glasgow as well as La Rochelle – Dublin and Dublin – La Rochelle.

While we’re adding additional flights, we expect these seats to sell out fast and encourage all rugby fans to book their low-fare Ryanair seats now to avoid missing out.”

PRÄSIDENTIN VON DER LEYEN ZEIGT SICH NICHT, WÄHREND ÜBER 4.000 FLÜGE GESTRICHEN WERDEN UND 730.000 PASSAGIERE VON DEN STREIKS DER FRANZÖSISCHEN ATC BETROFFEN SIND 

Ryanair, Europas Fluggesellschaft Nr. 1, und die genervten Passagiere Europas haben heute (04. Mai) die EU-Kommission erneut aufgefordert, sofortige Maßnahmen zu ergreifen, um die Bewegungsfreiheit der europäischen Bürger und Überflüge während der Streiks der französischen Flugsicherung zu schützen, nachdem am Montag, den 1. Mai, der 52. Tag gestreikt wurde. 

Obwohl die Petition erst vor sechs Wochen ins Leben gerufen wurde, haben bereits über 700.000 Passagiere die Petition von Ryanair “Protect Passengers: Keep EU Skies Open” unterzeichnet, in der die EU-Kommission aufgefordert wird, unverzüglich Maßnahmen zu ergreifen, um die Bewegungsfreiheit der europäischen Bürger und die Überflüge während der Streiks der französischen Flugsicherung zu schützen. Präsidentin von der Leyen hat jedoch noch nicht auf die zahlreichen Forderungen der EU-Passagiere reagiert, die aufgrund wiederholter Streiks der französischen Flugsicherung Annullierungen und Verspätungen hinnehmen mussten, obwohl sie nicht einmal nach/aus Frankreich reisen. Der Grund dafür ist, dass Frankreich die Mindestdienstvorschriften anwendet, um französische Inlandsflüge zu schützen, während EU-Überflüge aus Deutschland, Spanien, Italien, dem Vereinigten Königreich und Irland unverhältnismäßig häufig annulliert werden. Italien und Griechenland schützen bereits Überflüge während Streiks der Flugsicherung, und die EU-Kommission muss nun darauf bestehen, dass Frankreich dies ebenfalls tut.  

Ein Ryanair-Sprecher sagte: 

“Nach 52 Streiktagen der französischen Flugsicherung in den ersten vier Monaten des Jahres 2023, durch die die Flüge von über 730.000 Passagieren kurzfristig gestrichen wurden, zeigt sich Bundespräsidentin Ursula von der Leyen immer noch nicht. Sie hat noch nicht einmal die über 700.000 EU-Passagiere zur Kenntnis genommen, die unsere Petition “Protect Passengers: Keep EU Skies Open“ unterzeichnet haben, weil sie es satt haben, unnötige Beeinträchtigungen ihrer Reisepläne hinnehmen zu müssen, wenn eine geringe Anzahl französischer Flugsicherungsgewerkschaften streikt und das alles nur, weil die EU-Kommission es wiederholt versäumt hat, ihre Bewegungsfreiheit und Überflüge während französischer Flugsicherungsstreiks zu schützen. 

Es ist an der Zeit, dass die EU-Kommission die Überflüge während der Streiks der französischen Flugsicherung schützt, wie es Italien und Griechenland bereits tun. Wenn die französischen Flugsicherungsgewerkschaften auf einen Streik bestehen (was ihr gutes Recht ist), dann sollten sie die französischen Flüge streichen und die Überflüge schützen und nicht die EU-Überflüge aus Deutschland, Spanien, Italien und dem Vereinigten Königreich streichen. 

Ryanair ruft die Fluggäste in der EU dazu auf, uns dabei zu helfen, eine Million Unterschriften für unsere Petition Protect Passengers: Keep EU Skies Open zu erreichen und Präsidentin von der Leyen und die EU-Kommission aufzufordern, Maßnahmen zu ergreifen, um alle Flüge für EU-Bürger ein für alle Mal zu schützen.“ 

Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline and global energy group, Repsol, today (4 May) signed a Memo of Understanding (MOU) to advance the supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at Ryanair airports across Spain & Portugal further advancing the airline’s Pathway to Net Zero strategy.

While SAF is a key enabler of aviation decarbonisation, it only accounts for a small fraction of the current jet fuel usage worldwide. This agreement with Repsol gives Ryanair access to up to 155,000 tonnes (52m gallons) of SAF between 2025 and 2030 (equiv. to over 28,000 flights from Dublin to Madrid), saving approximately 490,000 tonnes in CO₂ emissions.

Ryanair has set itself an ambitious goal of using 12.5% SAF by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050, and this agreement demonstrates both Ryanair and Repsol’s commitment to working together and investing in SAF supply fuels.

Speaking at Repsol’s Headquarters in Madrid, Ryanair DAC’s CEO Eddie Wilson, said:

“SAF plays a key role in Ryanair’s Pathway to Net Zero strategy and our goal of using 12.5% SAF by 2030. Achieving this requires multiple different feedstocks and production methods and we’re encouraged that Repsol are looking at multiple solutions. This agreement helps Ryanair secure access to c.15% of this ambitious goal.

Repsol is a key sustainability partner for Ryanair, and we look forward to building on this collaboration as our Group grows to carry 225m passengers annually by FY26.”

Valero Marin, Repsol’s Executive Managing Director of Client, added:

“This collaboration agreement with Ryanair, Europe’s leading passenger airline, reinforces our commitment to the aviation sector and it is another step in Repsol’s commitment to renewable fuels. The aviation sector needs solutions such as SAF fuels to support the decarbonization process it is currently undergoing. This also consolidates our position as a multi-energy company with the objective of achieving zero net emissions by 2050”.

President Von Der Leyen Nowhere To Be Seen As Over 4,000 Flights Cancelled & 730,000 Passengers Impacted By French ATC Strikes

Ryanair, Europe’s No. 1 airline, and the fed-up passengers of Europe have today (04 May) called on the EU Commission yet again to take immediate action to protect European citizen’s Freedom of Movement and overflights during French ATC strikes following the 52^nd day of French ATC strikes on Mon, 1 May.

Despite only launching just 6 weeks ago, over 700,000 passengers have signed Ryanair’s “Protect Passengers: Keep EU Skies Open” petition calling on the EU Commission to take immediate action and protect European citizen’s Freedom of Movement and overflights during French ATC strikes. However, President von der Leyen has yet to acknowledge the multiple calls for action from the EU passengers who have suffered cancellations and delays due to repeated French ATC strikes, despite not even travelling to/from France. This is because France uses Minimum Service Legislation to protect French domestic flights while EU overflights from Germany, Spain, Italy, the UK, and Ireland are disproportionately cancelled. Italy and Greece already protect overflights during ATC strikes and the EU Commission must now insist that France does likewise.

A Ryanair spokesperson said:

“After 52 days of French ATC strikes in the first 4 months of 2023, forcing over 730,000 passengers to have their flights cancelled at short notice, President Ursula von der Leyen is still nowhere to be seen. She hasn’t even acknowledged the 700,000+ EU passengers who have signed our Protect Passengers: Keep EU Skies Open petition because they are sick and tired of suffering unnecessary disruption to their travel plans when a tiny number of French ATC unions strike, and all because the EU Commission have repeatedly failed to protect their Freedom of Movement and overflights during French ATC strikes.

It is time for the EU Commission to protect overflights during French ATC strikes as Italy and Greece already do. If French ATC unions insist on striking (which is their right) then they should cancel French flights and protect overflights, not cancel EU overflights from Germany, Spain, Italy, the UK.

Ryanair is calling on EU passengers to help us reach 1 million signatures on our Protect Passengers: Keep EU Skies Open petition and demand President von der Leyen and the EU Commission take action to protect all flights for EU citizens once and for all.”

    Ryanair Holdings plc today (Wed, 3 May) released Apr 2023 traffic stats as follows:

Ryanair operated over 89,650 flights in Apr 2023. Regrettably, over 650 flights (approx. 118,000 guests) were cancelled due to French ATC strikes in April. We call all EU citizens to sign our “Protect Overflights” petition on www.ryanair.com to force the EU Commission to take action to protect overflights.

*Apr 2022 traffic and load factor affected by the Ukraine invasion.

FED UP PASSENGERS CALL ON EU COMMISSION TO PROTECT OVERFLIGHTS AHEAD OF ANOTHER FRENCH ATC STRIKE ON MON, 1ST MAY

Ryanair, Europe’s No. 1 airline, today (28 Apr) confirmed that over 600,000 passengers have signed its “Protect Passengers: Keep EU Skies Open” petition calling on the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to take immediate action to protect European citizen’s Freedom of Movement and overflights during French ATC strikes.

When Ryanair’s petition reaches 1 million signatures, the airline will submit it to the EU Commission and demand that President Ursula von der Leyen finally takes action to protect EU citizen’s Freedom of Movement when French ATC repeatedly strike.

Despite only launching just 5 weeks ago, Ryanair has already collected over 600,000 signatures from passengers who are sick and tired of having their travel plans cancelled at short notice due to French ATC strikes, and all because the EU Commission has failed to protect their right to the Freedom of Movement. EU citizens now understand that their travel plans are being disrupted unnecessarily by French ATC unions and are demanding action from the EU Commission.

In the first 4 months of 2023, there have been over 50 days of French ATC strikes (10 times more than all of 2022) which have forced Ryanair to cancel over 3,700 flights, cancelling over 666,000 passengers’ flights at short notice. France uses Minimum Service Legislation to protect French domestic flights, while EU overflights from Germany, Spain, Italy, the UK and Ireland are disproportionately cancelled. This is unfair and must change. Italy and Greece already protect overflights during ATC strikes and the EU Commission must now insist that France does likewise.

A Ryanair spokesperson said:

“We are overwhelmed by the support for our Protect Passengers: Keep EU Skies Open petition with over 600,000 signatures already from passengers calling on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to take immediate action to protect their Freedom of Movement and overflights by keeping EU skies open during repeated French ATC strikes. We are rapidly approaching the 1 million signatures we need to force the EU Commission to take action to protect overflights and EU citizens’ Freedom of Movement.

French ATC strikes are the No.1 risk to EU citizens’ travel plans this Summer and passengers are really starting to understand that the EU Commission is doing nothing to mitigate that risk and protect their Freedom of Movement. EU citizens are now signing our petition to demand action from the EU Commission to protect them and their family’s travel plans this Summer. The EU’s Single Market for air travel should not be repeatedly disrupted by tiny French ATC unions because the EU Commission fails to take action. It’s time to protect overflights during French ATC strikes as Italy and Greece already do. If French ATC unions insist to strike (as is their right) then cancel French flights and protect overflights.”

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (27Apr) announced that it is adding 3 “Gamechanger” aircraft to its London Luton Airport (LLA) based fleet. These 3 brand new 737 8200 “Gamechanger” aircraft are more environmentally friendly and will reduce noise by 40% and CO₂ emissions by 16% while delivering greater capacity to carry 4% more passengers per flight.

The airline’s decision to allocate these brand new “Gamechanger” aircraft to London Luton Airport forms part of its joint strategy with LLA to deliver growth in a sustainable way.

Ryanair will operate over 140 weekly flights across 27 routes to/from London Luton Airport for Summer ‘23, incl. 9 new routes by Ryanair to Bezier, Bologna, Malta, and Seville, offering unbeatable choice at the lowest fares in Europe.

Speaking at Luton Airport, Ryanair DAC’s CEO Eddie Wilson said:

“As Europe’s and the UK’s No.1 airline, Ryanair is delighted to announce the addition of 3 “Gamechanger” aircraft to our fleet at London Luton Airport, making our operations at LLA even more sustainable by reducing noise emissions by 40% and fuel consumption by 16% delivering 4% more capacity per aircraft.

This significant investment at London Luton Airport forms part of a longer-term strategy between Ryanair and the Airport’s management team to deliver sustainable growth at LLA.

Ryanair will operate over 140 weekly flights across 27 routes to/from LLA this Summer and offer London’s citizens/visitors unbeatable choice at the lowest fares in Europe for Summer ‘23 getaways. We are launching a special promo travel sale with seats available from just £29.99 for travel between Apr and Jul ’23 on www.Ryanair.com.”

Jonathan Rayner, Chief Commercial Officer at London Luton Airport, added:

“We are delighted to welcome the arrival of these three new fuel-efficient Ryanair aircraft at London Luton Airport. As well as our commitment to achieve Net Zero Carbon for our own airport emissions by 2040, we are working closely with our airlines to reduce their emissions and Ryanair’s investment in these next generation aircraft is an exciting development that underlines its commitment to working sustainably with LLA.

We are looking forward to the busy summer months and our focus as ever is on delivering a simple and friendly passenger experience.”