Summary
- Ryanair is adding seven recent routes and increasing frequencies for thirty additional routes out of London this winter, expanding its network and strengthening connectivity.
- Two recent Boeing 737 aircraft will probably be based at Stansted, adding 60 high-paying jobs and growing its fleet to 50 aircraft within the UK capital.
- Ongoing NATS shortages are continuing to pose a challenge to the airline, with Ryanair calling on NATS CEO Mark Rolfe to resign.
Low-cost powerhouse Ryanair is about to bolster services out of London this winter with the addition of seven recent routes and a bump-up in frequencies for thirty additional frequencies.
London calling…
Through the Winter 2023 to 2024 travel season, London’s Gatwick (LGW), Luton (LTN), and Stansted (STN) will add recent connections to seven destinations across Europe and North Africa, including ski slope gateways Basel (BSL) and Tatry (TAT), in addition to winter sun breaks Ouarzazate (OZZ) and Vigo (VGO). Major cities Belfast International Airport (BFS), Tirana International Airport (TIA), and Treviso Airport (TSF) are also eyed within the network expansion, strengthening connectivity between the UK, Ireland, and Southern Europe.
An extra thirty services can have their frequencies increased, notably popular getaways, Alicante (ALC), Athens (ATH), and Faro (FAO), expanding Ryanair’s traffic in London by as much as 15%.
Photo: elesi / Shutterstock
In preparation, the carrier is about to base two recent Boeing 737 aircraft at Stansted to fulfill capability demand, growing its fleet across the UK capital to 50 aircraft. The expansion will add 60 high-paying flight deck, cabin crew, and engineering roles for a complete of 1,500 aviation professionals based out of London.
Continued controversy
Current traffic out of London sits at 27 million passengers per yr, nearly half of its predicted UK traffic for 2023-2024. Despite its continued UK growth, the carrier faces setbacks from the continuing NATS staff shortages, limiting air traffic into the country’s second-largest airport, Gatwick.
Over 2,000 flights were canceled in August following a technical issue that shut down the NATS air traffic control system. Further staff shortages through September have seen the airport request airlines to reduce services amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. Ryanair has refused to cancel any services, citing its fees of €100 million ($105 million) per yr paid to the service provider.
Photo: kamilpetran/Shutterstock
In an announcement shared earlier this week, the low-cost carrier explained,
Ryanair has incessantly pushed back against NATS findings, referring to the reports as and calling on NATS chief executive Martin Rolfe to step down following repeated difficulties with the agency. In its most up-to-date statement, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary pled his case to the UK Government for urgent ATC reform to forestall further disruption to passengers. O’Leary added,
Chatting with The Evening Standard, NATS disputed Ryanair’s claims, noting that it’s training ATC controllers; nonetheless, Gatwick’s complex procedures and the required times to realize ATC certification limit its ability so as to add further coverage.
What are your thoughts on Ryanair’s winter expansion plans? Will you be flying with the airline this yr? Tell us within the comments.