Ryanair announce winter cut back at Dublin

As was widely anticipated, Ryanair today announced a significant cut back in it's base strength at Dublin for the coming winter. Compared to last winter when the airline based 18 aircraft at Dublin, this winter will see the total reduced to 14 frames with a consequential 20% reduction in flights to less than 1,000 per week. Ryanair estimates that it's Dublin market will be reduced by 250,000 passengers this winter in a year when Dublin Airport's passenger figure will fall by 2m.

The airline has cited the following reasons for today's decision :

• Dublin is one of it's two most expensive bases, the other being Stansted.
• The Dublin Airport Authority has increased airport charges above the rate of inflation.
• The Aviation Regulator has allowed the DAA increase costs while those at other airports throughout Europe are falling.
• The Irish Government's €10 travel tax.

The Dublin Airport Authority was quick to respond to Ryanair's claims. In it's statement it contended that Ryanair's decision "is purely related to the current economic downturn", adding that recent experience had shown Ryanair to announce large cut backs to the media which did not materialise in due course.

On the matter of costs, the DAA said that studies by Airports Council International, the Aviation Regulator and 'others' had pointed out that Dublin's airport charges were amongst the lowest of any major airport in Europe. In defending it's own cost history the company said that passenger charges at Dublin airport had fallen by 30% in real terms over the past twenty years whereas "Ryanair's own charges have exploded", listing a number of the carrier's discretionary charges (and their rate of increase) such as booking fees, sports equipment handling charges, baggage check in charges and credit card fees.

The DAA have obviously never heard the expression "The customer is always right".