Ryanair to target Aer Lingus passengers on Brussels route

Ryanair is moving into the business passenger market and taking on Aer Lingus in one of its most profitable routes.

The low-cost carrier will start a service to Zaventum airport in Brussels on October 26 with three flights each day. Speaking at the launch of its winter schedule. the airline’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, said the Brussels service is aimed at the Government sector and business travellers.

“We have all heard about MEPs collecting their expense cheque on a Thursday morning and then looking to get back to Roscommon or where ever as soon as possible,” said Mr O’Leary. “Now they can use the Ryanair midday flight.”

Ryanair’s head of marketing, Kenny Jacobs, estimates that the Government books 7,000 flights to Brussels each year. With Ryanair’s flights starting at €19.99, he said, the Government could save €3m each year if it used its services instead of the part State-owned Aer Lingus.

Moreover, Ryanair aims to capture 60% of the lucrative Dublin-Brussels market, which is dominated exclusively by Aer Lingus at present. He said Ryanair’s service will offer the business traveller the potential to make a return trip on the same day.

The outspoken Ryanair CEO predicted that increased competition from Ryanair could presage the demise of Aer Lingus. He said the former national carrier would have to make a further €250m-€300m in payments to top up the pension fund, and “the unions and employees will hold it to ransom by threatening further disruptions any time it has spare cash sitting on its balance sheet.”

Ryanair could not sell its 30% stake in Aer Lingus by placing shares on the market as this would trigger as collapse in the price, “which would be tantamount to financial terrorism,” he added. It had tried to sell its Aer Lingus holding to another carrier, “but they wouldn’t even take it as a present.”

Mr O’Leary said it was “poppycock” to suggest that the ‘Wild Atlantic Way’ was responsible for the increased number of tourists. The single biggest factor was the decision to scrap travel tax.

Overall, Ryanair announced nine new routes yesterday — to Nice, Basel, Brussels, Cologne, Glasgow, Lisbon, Bucharest, Prague, and Marrakesh.