Planemaker From Tuvalu, joined Aug 2003, 5546 posts, RR: 34 Posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 2430 times:
Michael O'Leary said in a call with analysts that Ryanair is talking to 4 airports and will shortly announce the launch of 2 new bases.
One base will be announced in the next couple of weeks and will be ready for launch by Feb or March. The other base will be announced just before Christmas and will be ready for launch by late spring or early summer.
The 2 airports that come up with the best deals and facilities will get the bases which will be used for domestic or international flights. Since O'Leary critcized France and Ireland for their high taxes/costs during the call, the new bases will almost certainly not be in either country.
On another matter, interestingly, Ryanair has been negotiating for the last 5 years with Aviation Partners regarding blended winglets for their 737s. Despite the high cost of oil, O'Leary says that the winglets are still too expensive costs and is no hurry to reach a deal as he doesn't see oil prices remaining at current levels.
Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind. - A. Einstein
Sevenair From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2001, 1728 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 2342 times:
im no expert, but ive heard FR dont have the winglets, as they are only worthwhile for longer flights, most FR flights are under 1.5hrs, some just over two, but be assured, on FR you are never in the cruise for very long, so its not worth it.
Pe@rson From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 18883 posts, RR: 54 Reply 3, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 2191 times:
Pisa. Interesting. Already got a 5 routes (STN, PIK, CRL, HHN, Lubeck), so could quite possibly become another hub. Just like BVA, which currently has 7 routes (PIK, SNN, DUB, GRO, BGY, CIA, NYO). BVA doesn't yet have any based aircraft, but I am sure it will in the future. There's an awful lot of opportunities. For all we know, its new bases might not actually be currently served by FR. We must wait and see.
SNN is already technically a 'hub' - well, it has one based 738 (formerly a 732) - and has routes to PIK, STN, CRL, BVA and HHN.
"Everyone writing for the Telegraph knows that the way to grab eyeballs is with Ryanair and/or sex."
Planemaker From Tuvalu, joined Aug 2003, 5546 posts, RR: 34 Reply 4, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 1998 times:
im no expert, but ive heard FR dont have the winglets, as they are only worthwhile for longer flights, most FR flights are under 1.5hrs, some just over two, but be assured, on FR you are never in the cruise for very long, so its not worth it.
The benefits of winglets are not just in cruise. Take-off power setting is reduced, which extends engine life, take-off distance is also reduced, and higher MTOW is possible for weight restricted airfields. As well, range is increased. But you are correct that FR's short flights mitigate the relative high purchase and installation costs of the winglets. SWA is seeing an average 1%-1.5% fuel burn improvement on 73Gs equipped with winglets (which obviously adds up), but then they have many routes that are much, much longer than FR.
Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind. - A. Einstein
Beaucaire From Syria, joined Sep 2003, 5252 posts, RR: 26 Reply 6, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 1949 times:
"For all we know, its new bases might not actually be currently served by FR. We must wait and see."
Well that could match with Marseille....FR are overdue in setting up a base in the south of France - and introduce flights from Marseille to Tunis and Algiers - would be a first and defenitely a cash-cow !!!
3w From Ireland, joined Sep 2004, 85 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1914 times:
"Well that could match with Marseille....FR are overdue in setting up a base in the south of France - and introduce flights from Marseille to Tunis and Algiers -would be a first and defenitely a cash-cow !!!"
They might indeed set up a base in the south of France..but flights to north africa -i doubt it as they are outside the EU. the only country they fly to outside the EU is Norway but then they are the Schengen area ,aren't they?
They will only do what they know best and that is the intra EU market...north Africa is completely unchartered terotory for them..
My bet for a new base is somewhere like poland-its in the EU-fairly wealthy country-and very low risk for a LCC to set up..Vilnius could even on the cards.
But flights to Africa are OUT
Planemaker From Tuvalu, joined Aug 2003, 5546 posts, RR: 34 Reply 9, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1901 times:
In an interview with a Madrid newspaper, El Pais, O’Leary said that Ryanair is seriously considering expanding its operations throughout Spain and is looking at nine new Spanish airports as part of Ryanair's examination of the commercial potential of operating from 80 airports throughout Europe, including six in Italy and 17 in Germany.
Current Spanish service has grown in less than 2 years to 44 flights from 11 airports. New service will be starting at Zaragoza in December, Almeria in January and Seville in February, so odds are pretty strong that at least one new base will be in Spain.
Spain is very promising as a dual domestic/interanational market as there is very limited domestic LCC competition compared to Germany, for example. As well, there is only one high-speed rail line, Madrid-Seville (and only one other under construction, Madrid-Barcelona). Also, for the size and population of the country, there is a less developed autopista/autobahn/autoroute network which further adds to the attractiveness of a domestic LCC.
Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind. - A. Einstein
N1120a From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25869 posts, RR: 79 Reply 10, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1876 times:
FR has complained about runway lengths at a few airports they serve, so it would help them to have the winglets. Also, the vast majority of WN flights are short hauls and they still see winglets as saving them lots of money. Then again, O'leary is probably correct right now to not buy the winglets. Boeing should just make them standard
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
Planemaker From Tuvalu, joined Aug 2003, 5546 posts, RR: 34 Reply 11, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1815 times:
"The vast majority of WN flights that are short hauls" are operated by 733s, 735s and soon to be gone 732s. The 73Gs with winglets are scheduled for trancon routes where they reallize the highest cost/benefit. And they are seeing a fuel burn improvement of only 1%-1.5% -- which, relatively, is not "saving them lots of money" when you factor the total costs of retrofitting the winglets onto delivered 73Gs. Obviously, for O'Leary, the winglet cost/benefit for FR operations is too low.
Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind. - A. Einstein
N1120a From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25869 posts, RR: 79 Reply 12, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 1743 times:
First, all WN 73Gs are getting winglets and their 73Gs fly routes as short as LAX-LAS. They are not selective like CO. Second, WN has actually seen better results than expected when they ordered the winglets, leading to better cost savings. On more than 200 aircraft, the savings are in the many millions per year.
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
Irishjohn From Russia, joined Nov 2004, 111 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 1446 times:
Bases and winglets - swings and roundabouts!!!!
To understand Michael O'Leary and Ryanair, you need to understand the base rule - revenue but not at any cost!!
Winglets:
not relevant whether they are appropriate for a 5 mile journey or a 1000 mile journey - if they come at the right price they will be purchased! How many low cost / no frills airlines (or even high end players) do you know that provides, for a cost naturally, an onboard entertainment system?! I bet the hand held units came at the right price!!!! A saving of 1% to 2% would be acceptable to any carrier with more than 50 aircraft, especially one that has no fuel hedging as of November 1 !!!
Bases:
any airport that can guarantee a minimum people turnover of 100k per route is in with a chance! The airport that can guarantees 5 to 7 such routes is added to the base list! After that it's down to the various 'other' funded opportunities - marketing, training, promotions, etc.
I would guess that either Cork or Shannon may be one of the new bases but possibly not because of the above criteria. Ireland is the exception and anyone familiar with Ryanair will understand why!!!
Shannon and Cork will have Easyjet service from mid-January and I believe there is no way that Ryanair will permit these services to go unchallenged! And with the recent break up of the Irish Airports Authority into three individual airport company's I believe Ryanair will add services to either Cork or Shannon as a 'spit in the eye' to Dublin Airport!!!
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