Ryanair cancels 600 flights due to late plane deliveries

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Source: Unison.ie

Ryanair cancels 600 flights due to late plane deliveries
12:07 Tuesday December 20th 2005

Ryanair has been forced to cancel 600 flights in the new year due to a
delay in the delivery of new planes it has ordered from the aircraft manufacturer Boeing.

The delay has resulted from a strike at the US company during September and October this year.

The cancellations will affect new routes from East Midlands Airport in Britain and Pisa Airport in Italy during January, February and March.

Ryanair said it expected its schedule to be fully operational by April, when the new planes are due to be delivered.

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Press Release
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20.12.05
RYANAIR DELAYS ADDITIONAL AIRCRAFT AT EAST MIDLANDS AND PISA BASES FOR A PERIOD OF TWO MONTHS DUE TO DELAY IN BOEING DELIVERIES

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 low fares airline today announced a number of changes to its flying programme during January, February and March 2006 to accommodate the late delivery of new aircraft from Boeing, and Ryanair’s decision to retire the existing fleet of 737-200’s on schedule at the end of December. These cancellations will reduce Ryanair’s passenger traffic by approximately 100,000 passengers per month during January, February and March and will reduce the overall passenger traffic in the current fiscal year to just under 35 million passengers.

As a result of a strike in Boeing during September and October, all of Ryanair’s aircraft deliveries this Winter are being delivered approximately 1 month after their scheduled date. Ryanair has been able to meet this 4 aircraft shortfall during October, November and December by extending the flying programme on a number of older 737-200 series aircraft due for retirement. It is not possible to extend the use of these aircraft beyond the end of December 2005, as the aircraft have been sold and the pilots have been retrained on the 737-800’s. The airline has therefore decided to trim its schedule temporarily through January, February and March 2006. Planned capacity will return to normal with the delivery of the last 4 aircraft from Boeing during the month of April 2006.

These aircraft constraints will result in the following schedule changes during the first 3 months of 2006:


The cancellation of 200 rotations per month (approx. 1% the total flying programme) during January, February and March.
The delay of the launch of the second aircraft at the Nottingham East Midlands base from 7th March to 5th April.
The delay of the launch of the second aircraft at the Pisa base from 12th January to 4th April.

All passengers currently effected by these cancelled flights or the 2 month delay in new flights at the East Midlands and Pisa bases will be notified at least 3 weeks in advance of the original date of travel and will be offered either re-accommodation on an alternative Ryanair flight, re-accommodation on the new routes from East Midlands and Pisa when launched, or a full refund of their air fares.

Commenting on these cancellations during the first 3 months of next year, Ryanair’s Deputy Chief Executive, Michael Cawley said;

“We very much regret having to reduce our schedule to allow for the late delivery of new aircraft from Boeing and the planned retirement of our older 737-200’s in December. These aircraft have already been sold. We apologise sincerely to all our passengers who may be inconvenienced by these schedule changes, and we look forward to welcoming them on board the new flights from East Midlands and Pisa when the new aircraft are delivered and based there during April 2006.”

These schedule changes will not effect Ryanair’s profit guidance for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006.”