Irish and Spanish aviation authorities launched an investigation into Ryanair on Wednesday after a Madrid to Paris flight had to be diverted to Tenerife last weekend, citing technical issues.
CNBC reports on the troubles that Ryanair and its owner Michael O’Leary are facing. Last weekend’s diversion is but another mishap in the operations of Ryanair flights. In July, three flights were forced to emergency land in Valencia after low levels of fuel were reported.
Unions have accused Ryanair of "courting disaster" if it doesn't take action.
In a joint statement, Ireland’s Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport and the Spanish Ministry of Development said they would meet “to discuss oversight of Ryanair’s operation in Spain.”
Ryanair denies any accusations of “oversight in operation” and has accused Spanish authorities of falsifying information. The airline insists that it is safe and operates with sufficient amounts of fuel reserves.
The Irish pilots' union (IALPA) has claimed that Ryanair pressures flight crews to carry the minimum amount of fuel required under European regulations, but Ryanair has rejected these claims.
Ryanair said it has invited the Spanish Ministry to send a team of inspectors to Dublin to correct any "misplaced concerns" about Ryanair’s compliance with Europe’s operating and maintenance standards.
CNBC spoke with Victor Cook, a helicopter pilot about to obtain a commercial license from the Bristow Academy in Florida, who said, “From a business perspective I can understand that Ryanair is trying to lower their cost in all divisions across the company. By carrying less fuel, Ryanair is able to carry less weight, which reduces the amount of fuel they burn.”
Cook added, however, that fuel levels should not be dictated by the operator, but rather by the individual pilots on each plane as they are the ones who are ultimately responsible for the safety of the flight.
Ryanair is the largest passenger carrier operating in Spain, having carried more than 30 million passengers in the country last year.
4 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.bobby | Sep 20, 2012, 09:53 PM EDT
Ryanair have the youngest fleet of aircraft in Europe, and i can travel to Dublin from London for £30 return. The train fare from central London to the airport return costs me more than the flight.
torbreezy | Sep 20, 2012, 10:11 AM EDT
I find it astonishing for CNBC and the author of this article to quote a not-yet-licensed helicopter pilot on a subject where his credentials are unknown, suspect, and/or wanting: this is another illustration of CNBC and the author needing to "do homework" BEFORE they file the story . . . .
RedBranch | Sep 20, 2012, 09:57 AM EDT
Madrid, Paris, Tenerife. This is the equivalant of an Altanta-Boston Flight being diverted to Maimi, or better an island like Jamaica. I doubt fuel the problem here, navigation perhaps or perhaps the story itself?
odecartm | Sep 20, 2012, 09:51 AM EDT
Dear oh dear is this real reporting or fiction ? Suggest your staff writer gets some experience and then comes back. IAA has investigated and reported today on 3 landings at Valencia and found pilots acted correctly in accordance with EU safety laws. Report found Spanish Air Traffic Control has significant issues that need resolving. Spain doesn't appear to want to address its own issues closer to home with its own airlines and practices. I want an airline to divert if there is a problem.