New Route Announcement

Ryanair Holdings PLC
17 December 2002


                        BYE BYE BRITISH AIRWAYS BYE BYE

              RYANAIR COMMENCES NEW ROUTE FROM DUBLIN TO NEWCASTLE

                         ALL SEATS IN JANUARY AT €9.99

British Airways today announced its intention to withdraw three further routes
from Ireland in addition to the services from Cork and Shannon which were
withdrawn last year. The airline announced that it would close its routes from
Dublin to Leeds Bradford, Newcastle and Southampton in March next year.

This is the latest evidence that British Airways is unable to compete with
Ryanair's low fares. On the Dublin-Bristol route, Ryanair's market share is
currently 80% to British Airways 20%, and in the case of the Newcastle and
Southampton routes, British Airways is unable to match either Ryanair's fares or
passenger numbers from Dublin to Middlesborough/Teesside and Bournemouth
airports.

Responding to this news Ryanair, Europe's only low fares airline today announced
the inauguration of a daily service from Dublin to Newcastle commencing on
Saturday 4th January 2003. All seats in the first month will be for sale at a
special introductory fare of €9.99 one way (tax inclusive). This represents a
discount of 93% on the British Airways one way fare.

Announcing the new service, Ryanair's Commercial Director, Michael Cawley said;


    'Ryanair has been providing links between Dublin and the North East of
    England ever since its Teesside service started in 1997. Passenger numbers
    have increased ever year on this route and such has been its success that we
    are now announcing the inauguration of the a daily service from Newcastle to
    Dublin to offer our low fare services on an even wider basis across the
    North East of England.

    'This service will offer low fares for the first time to Tynesiders and to
    those many thousands of Irish people who want to visit Newcastle and see the
    Magpies in action. British Airways may be gone from this route, but for the
    first time the people of Newcastle will be able to enjoy widely available
    low fares from Ryanair as their compatriots have at our 14 other airports
    throughout the UK. To celebrate this announcement we are offering all seats
    for sale in January at the fantastic low fare of €9.99 one-way (tax
    inclusive). Booking commences at 10.00am Wednesday 18th December.'

Ends.

For further information

please contact:           Michael Cawley          Pauline McAlester

                          Ryanair                 Murray Consultants

                          Tel. [phone]     Tel. [phone]


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange