EasyJet Warns of "Tough Winter" Because They Can't Compete
with Ryanair's Low Fares
Ryanair today (17 Nov 09) rejected EasyJet's latest claims that it offered better value than Ryanair. Ryanair's 66m passengers are never wrong. The only reason why EasyJet is able to carry 45m passengers is because many of these people could not get seats on Ryanair's fully booked aircraft.
Ryanair's Stephen McNamara said:
"Passengers prefer Ryanair's average fare of £30 because it's half than EasyJet's fare of £60. This is why Ryanair is adding new bases and new routes all over Europe while Easyjet is closing bases and pulling aircraft from Luton, Liverpool, East Midlands, Bristol and Rome Ciampino. EasyJet's results today show their ex-fuel unit costs have risen 6% in the past year while Ryanair has reduced its ex fuel unit costs by 5%. The gap between Ryanair and high cost EasyJet is getting wide,r which is why EasyJet is slowing growth and pulling routes.
"In order for Ryanair to match EasyJet we would have to double our average fare, something we have no intention in doing because this winter we will lower our fares even further to insure an even "tougher winter" for high fare airlines like EasyJet, BA and others".
Ends. Tuesday, 17th November 2009
For further information
Please contact:
Stephen McNamara Pauline McAlester
Ryanair Ltd Murray Consultants
Tel: +353-1-812171 Tel. +353-1-4980300