Ryanair announce $1bn aircraft expansion

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 low fares airline today announced a $1bn (€854m) aircraft expansion plan for its Frankfurt Hahn base.

Ryanair will base 18 aircraft, operate over 50 routes, carry 8 million passengers a year and sustain over 8,000 jobs at Frankfurt Hahn.

Frankfurt Hahn airport will now benefit from a $1 billion aircraft investment, while Ireland loses out on 8,000 jobs, over 50 routes and 8 million passengers per annum.

Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s CEO said: “Bertie Ahern’s lamentable failure to deliver a second competing terminal at Dublin airport – as promised in his agreed Programme for Government - means that Ireland has lost yet again out on a $1bn (€854m) aircraft investment, 8,000 new jobs and over 50 routes that Ryanair has repeatedly offered to base in Dublin.

"Bertie Ahern’s broken promises and protection of an inefficient airport monopoly mean that Irish consumers and tourism continue to suffer higher costs and third world facilities while jobs, flights and passengers go elsewhere.

“Instead of encouraging competition and job creation at no cost to the tax payer, this Government has protected its failed Dublin Airport Monopoly by allowing it to waste millions on over specified inefficient facilities forcing Irish passengers and tourists to this country to endure never ending price hikes and queues.

“It is a tragedy that Ireland has lost these 8,000 jobs and new routes because of this Government’s blatant mismanagement, overspending and broken promises. This loss is testament to the fact that this Government’s transport policy is a shambles based on empty promises, incompetence and blatant disregard for the hard pressed Irish consumer and visitors to this country”.