STANSTED AIRPORT: Ryanair axing a quarter of Stansted planes this winter

1:56pm Thursday 17th July 2008

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By David Jackman LOW-cost airline Ryanair is axing a quarter of its flights from Stansted this winter.

The company, which last winter had 36 aircraft based at the airport, is reducing its number to 28 aircraft with an approximate 14 per cent reduction in the number of weekly flights from over 1,850 per week last year to just under 1,600 this year.

Ryanair estimates its Stansted traffic will decline this winter by some 900,000 passengers when compared to last winter.

It says the Essex airport is the most expensive of Ryanair’s 28 bases and adds that BAA’s airport charges have increased by 15 per cent this year – on top of a 100 per cent increase last year – and oil prices have rised to $140 per barrel.

A written request from Ryanair asking BAA Stansted to provide a substantial discount on its winter airport charges was rejected Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said: “These winter schedule cutbacks, which are significantly greater than those of last winter, show just how damaging the BAA monopoly has become to consumers and the best interests of London and UK tourism and the economy generally.

“Like most monopolies BAA continues to increase costs at three times the rate of inflation while delivering miserable service and inadequate facilities.

“Passengers continue to suffer long queues at security and passport control and frequent baggage belt failures at Stansted because BAA refuses to staff or operate these facilities adequately.”

A BAA Stansted spokesman said: “The aviation industry like many others is coping with the challenges of a global economic downturn. Everyone is feeling the pinch. The dynamic nature of the budget airline industry means routes and flight schedules change all the time – and at times like this, more so.

“Many airlines, including Ryanair, always reduce services in the winter season. This year will be no exception - even BA is cutting back.

“Today we’ve had some detail from Ryanair. Numbers and statistics have been banded around, many of which we simply don’t recognise. It’s up to Ryanair, as with BAA, to make the right decisions for their companies at times like this, and the massive hike in oil price is obviously a major influence in decision-making.

“Cost cutting and improved efficiency is key; and Ryanair is already laying-off staff at Stansted as they introduce self-service check-in.

“Surely, this is a time for our industry to pull together, not spat with each other by press release. We have met with Ryanair to discuss how best to help each other in the months ahead, and we look forward to continuing to do so in coming weeks.

“We have absolutely no intention of conducting commercial negotiations in public. We are however very pleased Ryanair will be launching eight new routes from Stansted this winter.

“So surely today’s news is much more about a dynamic industry coping with severe economic pressure, and Ryanair re-shaping it’s business across its entire network, than about an argument with an airport company that has the best interests of the travelling public at heart.”