Ryanair

[mcrconfidential]

‘Go for a wee before you get on the plane...’

Simon Binns for Manchester Confidential meets Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s cheeky chief exec

Michael O’Leary certainly made an impression on his flying visit to Manchester this week. The cocksure Ryanair chief executive was full of praise for the new management team at Manchester Airport and couldn’t resist a jibe at some of his rivals.
The four new routes represent a canny deal for Manchester Airport and suggest that Ryanair – for all their bluster otherwise – do actually need a proper presence here. The new airport management team are making strides in the right direction with some good route wins in the last few months. Not to forget the A380.
So, Ryanair and the airport are friends again. It certainly won’t be dull.
Simon Binns sat down with Mr O’Leary for a cup of coffee and a pastry in Terminal 2 – here are the highlights.

For full article go to the manchester confidential website

 

[White Heather]

What is there to be positive about LBASpotter?

Well, perhaps the fact that LBA is the best performing airport in terms of passenger number increases last year, despite it being an 'annus horibilis' for the aviation industry. We may have a few less Ryanair flights, but the Gerona is replaced by Barcelona, do I don't think you can count that as a real loss of passengers, the Dublin rotations lost are more to do with Ryanair's ongoing dispute with Dublin airport than anything to do with LBA, we have got Fuerteventura, Easyjet have put in an appearance, and although Jet2 are not growing out of LBA as they once did, they are still growing as our airline and we have a couple of new routes at least.

We have just gone through a period of intense growth at LBA, and in the current climate that is never going to be sustained. Any growth at all, or even standing still, is good in the current situation, particularly given the downward trend in domestic flying.

I just think we quickly forget how far LBA has come since the arrival of Jet2 in 1993, and that the future is bright enough. Growth always tends to come in spurts and if we can consolidate on where we are now in 2011, there is every reason to be optimistic for more routes and further growth beyond that.

I just seem to sense a feeling of gloom and doom on the forum because the growth has slowed down, and I am sorry but I don't feel that way at all. I think LBA has done really well in the last few years and will do so again in the future. Obviously there is the little matter of the terminal expansion to deal with in and amongst, which may generate a bit quicker growth once it is done.

 

[ryan]

I doubt Thomson will be happy over at DSA, Jet2 at LBA and MAN and also Easyjet at MAN.

At DSA at least, the two have operated side by side for a number of years without any problem. They both operate on different days (TOM on Tuesday and Saturday, FR on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday), and they are after two different segments of the market - Thomson after mainly package tours and a few seat-onlys, of which a meal and IFE might be offered, and Ryanair after seat-onlys with a low-cost service.

At the other airports, it will probably be the case that Ryanair are only providing MORE seats, as opposed to stealing them from another airline.

 

[lbaspotter]

What is there to be positive about LBASpotter?.

Yeah I see where you coming from Heather and agree that LBA has come on leaps and bounds since Bridgepoint Capital took control of the airport from the 5 Local Councils. As you know I am normally one of the first people to stick for the airport on here, well most times anyway.

But at the moment it just feels like LBA is going around the same old circles again. Have the Marketing team at LBA been doing anything off late. (Yeah they been updating the Facebook page, My 5 year old nephew could do that)
It seems like there on an extended Christmas Holiday or they have all gone to sleep for the start of a new year. While every other airport up and down the country has been announcing new routes LBA is been left behind, yet again.

I just wish we could have some good news to report. We were all on a high before Christmas thinking that ryanair might announce something big and new, But instead all we get is "Leeds Bradford Airport Supports Yeadon Panto", "Festive Cheer at Leeds Bradford Airport", & "Leeds Bradford Airport and Multiflight Make Special Christmas Flight". Meanwhile ryanair are moving back into Manchester and expanding on this side of hill out of both nearby Donny and Humberside now.

Come on LBA we know you can do better. These are just my own personnel opinion's by the way

PS
On a final note I wonder if anybody would like to comment from the Airport’s Managerment or Marketing team on here for once. It would be really interesting to hear what they have to say for a change. “Direct from the horses mouth” as they say

 

[pilot_737]

I cant see Ryanair pulling out of LBA, not for a long time, unless the terminal doesn't actually get re developed!

Ryanair has one of its largest bases at Liverpool and they opened up a base at Manchester without a struggle, so why cant they have LBA too!
I know your going to say they can't sustain 3 airports along the M62 corridor (4 including HUY), but there must be demand! Ryanair can pretty much run a loss on some flights and still be in huge profit because of the size of the airline.
If anything, this is bad news for Jet2.com!

 

[rmac]

When you read the comments posted on this forum about other airports in the UK there is much more disappointment with the lack of good news compared to what is happening at LBA. Just read about Bournemouth, Cardiff, Newquay, Belfast BFS, East Midlands, Doncaster, Teesside Glasgow Prestwick to name just a few. LBA has come a long way, as White Heather clearly states and I am sure that Jet2 and Ryanair will be consolidating this year as the terminal extension gets underway, then expanding. Same for Easyjet. I am sure they will want a greater presence east of the Pennines and LBA has great opportunities.
For LBA it is more forward than back these days, which cannot be said of many other airports.

 

[wawkrk]

Part of the response to Ryanair's new routes from Manchester.
This is from the Manchester Evening News.

Airport managing director Andrew Harrison told the newspaper: ‘We have listened to what our passengers said. They don't like travelling to Leeds or Liverpool, part of that is about being proud to travel from Manchester. It's about trying to make sure we have a competitive range of offers. It (Ryanair) is something people tell us they have missed. We are very happy with the deal.’


It's the same here in Leeds, local councillors have always been proud to fly from Manchester.

wawkrk

 

[ryan]

Ryanair can pretty much run a loss on some flights and still be in huge profit because of the size of the airline.

They most certainly do not! This is why Ryanair chops and changes its schedule so much! The airline is ran by an accountant, and any flight making a loss, or not enough profit as it would like, will be stopped immediately and the aircraft put to better use elsewhere.

 

[ls27]

I just wonder if the powers that be at MAN are looking over their shoulders and thinking that perhaps LBA may be taking passengers away,to fly Ryanair, and they want to stop that. I also wonder if the Jet2 factor at Leeds is suppressing Ryanair's expansion. The councillors are not the only ones proud to fly from MAN, many passengers seem to think that way as well. You will have heard many times-'well you can't fly from Leeds to (where ever), but you can from Man and it's also cheaper and easier. I alway fly from there'. Perhaps this has been the fault the airport's non existing marking department in past years. Perhaps it's time for Flybe to rouse themselves.

 

[pilot_737]

Ryanair can pretty much run a loss on some flights and still be in huge profit because of the size of the airline.

They most certainly do not! This is why Ryanair chops and changes its schedule so much! The airline is ran by an accountant, and any flight making a loss, or not enough profit as it would like, will be stopped immediately and the aircraft put to better use elsewhere.

My mistake, I was just assuming!

 

[Aviador]

Part of the response to Ryanair's new routes from Manchester.
This is from the Manchester Evening News.

Airport managing director Andrew Harrison told the newspaper: ‘We have listened to what our passengers said. They don't like travelling to Leeds or Liverpool, part of that is about being proud to travel from Manchester. It's about trying to make sure we have a competitive range of offers. It (Ryanair) is something people tell us they have missed. We are very happy with the deal.’


[hi-lighty:y3kfrna4]It's the same here in Leeds, local councillors have always been proud to fly from Manchester.[/hi-lighty:y3kfrna4]
wawkrk

That is what we're up against I'm afraid.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

It (Ryanair) is something people tell us they have missed.

Sounds like something right out of the MOL book of quotes.

With the various airlines and options at MAN do people really say they miss not having Ryanair?
Especially as the new routes are in the main bucket and spade destinations already well catered for at MAN.

 

[Nordjet414]

Hi Guys

I think LS27 as hit the nail on the head and as much as the old manchester management made a fuss about not dealing with ryanair the new set up has decided keep loosing traffic to the likes of LBA or LPL or do something about it guess they have decided the latter.

Somebody mentioned on the old dried fruit that because barring madrid the other routes are already served this will cause a price war who wins then, the punters who will travel miles to save some hard earned cash and mcr airport who will get more pax though the doors.

I'm not suggesting Leeds will loose out just we might see the sort of expansion from ryanair that BHX has ie not a lot while they push for a manchester base.

NJ

 

[a300boy]

I think Lbia will suffer as a result of these new routes from our competitor airfields and suspect Ryanair are playing their optons. I also believe it means they could then easily move out of Lbia in the event of a fall-out with our management. I am happy for the other airfields involved but think this will further delay developement at Lbia. We will probably have to wait at least a year before we have any more good news, what I dont understand is where this expansion of seats Jet 2 were promising for this summer is coming from ? how long it will be before they look at moving their main base to Manchester which is where they continue to grow every year. We have become used to the odd extra flight once a week as a sign they are expanding at Lbia.

 

[User0001]

If the airport doesn't get on and build the terminal extension, I expect Ryanair are very likely to pull out- the promise of this is one of the main reasons they opened a base at Leeds in the first place.

 

[Aviador]

If the airport doesn't get on and build the terminal extension, I expect Ryanair are very likely to pull out- the promise of this is one of the main reasons they opened a base at Leeds in the first place.

Ryanair are very conscious of airport expansion and if they don't agree with them they make it very clear in public that they don't agree.

Ryanair are currently in disagreement with the Dublin airport authority. Ryanair claim that the airport in Dublin has spent too much on the new Terminal 2 there. They claim the airport will need to be raise it's charges to pay for it.

For this reason I would tend to think Ryanair have been informed of the delay and I expect they are happy with the airports decision.

LS16 has recently pointed out the airports current ability to handle additional capacity. I think he quoted in the region of 3.5m before additional capacity would become essential.

If anyone wishes to continue the discussion about terminal development you need to refer to the Infrastructure Development thread.

 

[lbaspotter]

It looks like ryanair have 4 based aircraft currently at LBA. 2 units are operational while 2 are parked up by looks of things
.
First off up EI-EMK re-positioned in from Liverpool on Saturday morning as FR01P due to been diverted away on Friday night. Then EI-ENE returned to LBA from her over night stay in Gdansk on Saturday lunchtime operating the delayed inbound FR1504 service

Then Yesterday saw EI-DYF position in from Liverpool as FR03P which looks liked it was the spare 3rd back up aircraft. Meanwhile today also saw EI-DWL positioned in from Liverpool this afternoon as FR06P

Anyone know why?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I was reading in another forum this evening that BHX has had eight Ryanair 737s parked recently though only three were operational - down to positioning flights apparently as it would seem at LBA.

I suppose that because it doesn't need the full fleet for its winter ops Ryanair isn't too worried where it parks up its aircraft for a while during the course of positioning merry-go-rounds.

 

[Moo2009]

Maybe one day soon we could have 4 based Ryanair operating lots of new destinations we can only hope

 

[ls27]

On the face of it, it appears the there is a problem at Treviso, as many FR flights have not departed for some time, including today's LBA flight.