Demise of SkyEurope provides Ryanair with opportunity to expand

RYANAIR, which is expected to launch its 33rd European base today, believes the collapse of Austrian airline SkyEurope will open up opportunities for it to expand.

The airline is likely to consider operating routes in areas left vacant by SkyEurope, which filed for bankruptcy on Monday. This news comes as Ryanair prepares to announce new routes from Porto in Portugal today.

SkyEurope began operations in 2002, expanding to carry about 3.7 million people a year to 29 destinations from Prague, Vienna and the Slovak cities of Bratislava, Kosice and Poprad.