Ryanair Offers Five New Flight Connections in Austria

Due to lower costs at regional airports, Ryanair has intensified flight connections there, explained the Irishman O'Leary. In the summer, flights from Linz to Bari, London, and Alicante are planned. It is also planned to serve Alicante from Salzburg. As an additional Ryanair route, only Salerno will be offered from Vienna.

Ryanair Again Demands Abolition of Air Traffic Tax

The fleet stationed in Vienna has shrunk from 19 to 18 aircraft. If a future government does not abolish the air traffic tax of 12 euros per passenger, Ryanair will grow "very little" in this country, said the Ryanair CEO. He spoke of a passenger increase of 100,000 to a maximum of 200,000 annually. If the tax were abolished, Ryanair would enable "traffic growth of up to 50 percent in Austria by 2030," according to the airline. O'Leary himself even spoke of possible growth from the current 7 to 10 million passengers in Austria within two years after a possible end of the tax. Once a new government is in place, they will approach it, said Andreas Gruber, managing director of Laudamotion GmbH, which belongs to Ryanair. In previous discussions, politicians have shown understanding for Ryanair's demand, but concrete action is needed.

Ryanair Plans Higher Frequency in Klagenfurt

There is no new connection at Klagenfurt Airport, but the frequency is expected to be increased in some cases, explained Gruber. For example, Palma is expected to be served five times a week from the Carinthian airport in the summer. For the upcoming fiscal year, which begins at the end of March, Ryanair expects 206 million passengers worldwide - the number was recently revised downwards due to delivery difficulties at aircraft manufacturer Boeing. In the following fiscal year, it is expected to be 615 million passengers. At the Vienna location, O'Leary expects rising ticket prices in the current year. The price level is currently slightly below that of "more mature markets like London, Madrid, or Barcelona," as many routes flown from Vienna are still "in the growth phase." However, with lower growth, prices are also likely to rise, O'Leary said.

Ryanair CEO Criticizes Lufthansa CEO

Ryanair CEO O'Leary accused Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr of having a "world domination complex" in light of several acquisitions. However, the Italian ITA, in which Lufthansa's parent company recently acquired a stake, will certainly be better managed under the new leadership than before, said the Ryanair boss. He expects that ITA will run similarly to other Lufthansa subsidiaries - including Austrian Airlines - and that the Italian company will not significantly expand its business and profits will flow to the parent company.

(APA/Red)

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