Ryanair tells transatlantic passengers it has no interest in their business

Long haul is not part of airline’s future despite new Boeing deal

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Ryanair tells transatlantic passengers it has no interest in their business

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Michael O’Leary has shunned the chance to ever introduce the Ryanair model to transatlantic flights – days after signing a massive deal with American plane manufacturer Boeing.

Speculation that O’Leary would introduce his no frills service to US flights heightened after he ordered 175 new aircraft from Boeing in a $15billion deal.

But passengers hoping for a fares war on the transatlantic routes have been dealt a blow after Ryanair signalled it will not be entering the market.

O’Leary’s right hand man  Michael Cawley, has told the Irish Independent that Ryanair’s business model is not suited to the long-haul market.

Cawley said: “I don’t think it is ever envisaged that Ryanair would get into the long-haul market.

“Long haul for us is flying to the Canaries or to Greece at the moment. Some of our flights are four and five hours. From Prestwick to the Canaries, it is five hours.

“As far as flying across the Atlantic is concerned, a lot of the things we do, like 25 minute turnarounds, are not that relevant in the context that you are not going to get an extra flight like you will from Shannon to London if you do it often enough during the day.

“We just signed up a deal with Boeing which is going to keep us busy for the next six or seven years growing in Europe.

“If an opportunity came along and if long-haul aircraft prices declined dramatically, it might be possible to get into the business then, but there is no imminent prospect of that.”

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