Ryanair plans to invest $1.2 billion to expand service to Milan, Italy. (9/14/2007)
Europe’s largest low-cost airline plans to open routes at Milan’s main international airport, Malpensa, and expand its presence at the low-cost hub Orio al Serio.
The move came after Ryanair decided to cut back its operations from London Stansted, closing routes to Blackpool, Esjberg and Malmo. The routes between Dublin and Vasteras and Malmo are also being closed, and many more routes are becoming seasonal. According to a company official, the reason the airline is pulling out of Stansted is because BAA has doubled its passenger charges.
According to an official statement: “There is clearly room for growth to both the east and the west of Milan and Ryanair’s manifesto for Malpensa would ensure that Lombardy realises its true potential once passengers have an alternative to the excessively high fares charged by Alitalia. In return for a business plan which focuses on delivering a simple, efficient, low cost operation at Malpensa Airport, Ryanair is committed to developing in Lombardy by investing over $1bn between 2008 to 2012.”
Ryanair’s Head of Communications, Peter Sherrard said: “For too long Alitalia’s high fares have limited growth in Malpensa and the Milan area. In order for the airport and the region to prosper, Malpensa needs to attract those airlines which are capable of delivering growth, and no airline can match Ryanair’s unrivalled ability to deliver this because of the infinitely broader appeal of low fares compared to the narrow appeal of Alitalia’s high fares.”
“We look forward to meeting with SEA tomorrow (Friday) to discuss our offer to deliver growth by investing over $1bn in Malpensa and Orio al Serio. Ryanair’s ‘Manifesto for Malpensa’ can unlock the true potential of the region thanks to the proven ability of our guaranteed lowest fares to deliver record growth for tourism and business. Ryanair’s offer to SEA provides the potential for real growth, what happens now is in SEA’s hands.”
