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Air France has filed a law suit against the Irish low-cost airline with the Bobigny court of first instance in France, and is seeking compensation for damages.

”Ryanair has broadly advertised to the press that it is launching proceedings with the European Commission denouncing the alleged collusion between Air France and two other European airlines,” Air France said.

”It is basing its complaint on the mere fact that Air France and the two airlines concerned increased their fares on the same day, a few hours apart, following implementation of a fuel surcharge,” it added.

Air France said it considers the facts ”slanderous accusations” not only because they are ”pure fabrication” but also because ”Ryanair deliberately leaked the accusations to the media.”

source: Forbes

Greek Tourism Development Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos on Tuesday met in London with Ryanair’s deputy CEO for talks on ways to lure the pioneering low-cost airline to the Greek market.

Speaking to reporters in the British capital on the sidelines of the World Travel Market trade fair, the Greek minister said negotiations were currently underway to attract low-cost airline carriers to Greece, while he underlined the importance of high-quality services in the tourism sector.

source: Ana.gr

Travel agents have hit back after Ryanair referred to them as the “‘greatest deadwood'” and “‘the costliest parasites in the travel industry'”.

The low-cost airline spoke out over the news that easyJet had signed deals with global distribution systems Amadeus and Galileo in a bid to target more corporate customers.

Ryanair head of communications Peter Sherrard said: “‘EasyJet has signed a deal ­[allowing] travel agents, the costliest parasites in the travel industry, [to book its flights].'”

source: travelweekly.co.uk

Ryanair plans to go from a low- cost airline to a “‘no- cost airline'” – making tickets free but earning more from add-ons such as food and luggage charges.

Chief executive Michael O’Leary announced yesterday: “‘It’s our ultimate ambition to get to a stage where the fare is free.'”

But Mr O’Leary confirmed that the airline’s check-in charge would double from £2 to £4 only months after its introduction.

source: ThisIsLondon.co.uk

Ryanair, Europe’s biggest low-cost airline, has announced record half-year results, with profits surging ahead by nearly a quarter.

The Irish low-cost airline also raised its full-year expectations as it looked forward to brighter prospects over the winter.

It saw after-tax profits in the half year to the end of September rise to £283 million, up 24 per cent on the same period last year. Passenger numbers were up by a fifth to 26.6 million in the period.

source: Scotsman

Budget airline easyJet has unveiled a brand new look for its cabin crew – designed by the mile-high workers themselves.

The stylish and more formal self-desgined uniform replaces the previous black trousers and orange shirts worn by cabin crew on flights.

It is made up of a number of different pieces, including a black suit, orange or white shirt, waistcoat and orange necktie, so that crew can create their own combination in which they
fell most comfortable.

source: biggleswadetoday.co.uk

Budget airline Ryanair has again been accused of misleading claims by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

An national advert by the airline read “‘Robbed by Lastminute.com?'”, stating that people buying tickets via an online agent were being “‘ripped off'”.

The ASA said the advert, which implied online agents overcharged people 100%, could not run “‘in its current form'”.

The airline has been forced to withdraw other adverts for breaching ASA rules, including claims over emission levels.

source: BBC

Low cost airline Ryanair will launch its new daily service from December 13th 2007, seeing the number of routes from Cork rise to six.

“‘We are delighted to announce these two new daily flights to East Midlands and Glasgow from Cork. This expansion will see Ryanair carry over one million passengers on its six routes from Cork in 2008,'” commented Ryanair head of communications Peter Sherrard.

source: Travelbite.co.uk

Tony Ryan, the Irish co-founder of low-fares airline Ryanair, which helped to revolutionise air travel in Europe, died at his home on Wednesday aged 71, his family said.

Ryan, who suffered a lengthy, unspecified illness, had a family fortune worth an estimated 1.2 billion euros (1.6 billion dollars) and opened up cheap weekend breaks and short-haul flights to destinations across the continent.

source: smh

Budget airline Ryanair said on Thursday it was ready to launch 80 routes to two Milan airports, stepping in as struggling Alitalia cuts back in Italy’s industrial heartland. Europe’s biggest low-cost carrier is prepared to use an additional 12 airliners at Milan’s Malpensa airport and another six at Serio airport in Bergamo, company spokesman Peter Sherrard told a news conference.

source: Turkish Daily News