Ryanair staff in Belgium are literally tearing their hair out at a sudden surge in testing for cannabis use.
“‘Every week, a nurse comes from Ireland and takes stewards and stewardesses into an office where they cut hair samples for drug tests,'” an employee reported.
The controls were bi-annual, but have been conducted three times in the past three weeks, Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara confirmed.
source: smh.com.au
Budget airline Ryanair‘s chief executive Michael O’Leary has threatened the Spanish government that it will cut flight plans if fines levied on the company are not lifted. More than 60 fines were imposed at a value of more than €1.23million between 2009 and 2010.
The fines were for a variety of alleged infractions including refusing to accept identity cards and driving licences as ID proof and disputes over luggage.
source: euroweeklynews.com
Ryanair is making a third attempt to acquire rival Aer Lingus in a bid to create an all-Irish national champion.
Michael O’Leary, Ryanair chief executive, has approached the Irish government to acquire its 25 per cent stake in Aer Lingus.
The budget airline bought just over 29 per cent of Aer Lingus in 2006, so the government’s stake would give it majority control.
The European Commission has blocked two attempts by Ryanair to acquire Aer Lingus because of competition issues – one in 2006 and the other two years later. And Brussels still says that joining the two airlines would create a monopoly for Dublin flights
source: dailymail.co.uk
The advertising watchdog has banned a campaign by Ryanair featuring a bikini-clad model and the promise of spring sun after most of the destinations on offer had maximum temperatures under a nippy 10C.
Budget airline Ryanair, no stranger to flexing its interpretation of advertising regulation in the past, ran a national press campaign promoting cheap tickets in February and March urging readers to “‘Book to the sun now!'”.
The ad featured a model in a bikini, lying on a beach wearing sunglasses while sipping a cocktail.
source: Guardian.co.uk
Ryanair is to break one of the taboos of low-cost aviation by offering seat reservations at £10 each way.
Until now it had been standard wisdom among low-cost operators that seat reservations could hamper the swift turnaround times that are so key to budget flying and would, therefore, increase costs. Nevertheless, starting from 16 May Ryanair will trial a seating reservation service on its Dublin-Gatwick and Dublin-Malaga routes that will allow passengers to pre-reserve seats in the front two rows or in the wing rows for extra legroom.
Ancillary revenues are an important and profitable part of any budget carrier’s business plan, accounting for nearly a quarter of Ryanair’s turnover.
source: Guardian.co.uk
Ryanair left a wheelchair-bound passenger on the runway at Luton Airport because “‘all it was interested in was getting the plane airborne on time’†according to a judge.
Jo Heath, who suffers multiple sclerosis, had to be carried on to the aircraft by her husband Paul using a fireman’s lift. Northampton County Court ruled the airline broke disability discrimination laws and breached its contract with Heath after its staff refused to help the couple in June 2008. The court awarded the Heaths £1,750.
Ryanair said it would appeal on the grounds that Luton Airport was responsible for assisting the passengers under European Union law.
source: travelweekly.co.uk
Ryanair has announced that it will add 2 euro (£1.76) to the price of all bookings from Monday.
The increase is designed to cover the cost of cancellations and delays.
The budget airline blamed the rise on “‘unfair and discriminatory'” EU legislation which holds airlines responsible for the welfare of passengers during such events.
Ryanair lost over 100m euros (£88.5m) last year due to unexpected events such as the Icelandic ash cloud.
source: BBC.co.uk
The ‘European Commission‘ has told Irish authorities to enforce rules which require internet based companies to provide a contact email address.
Ryanair does not have an email address listed on its website and instead customers are expected to contact the low-cost airline in writing, by fax or via a premium rate telephone number.
European Commission confirmed that the Ryanair’s communication policy, by not listing an email address, is ”incompatible” with Article 5 of the E-commerce Directive.
source: thisismoney.co.uk
The Irish airline currently flies only Boeing 737 jets but it broke off negotiations with the US firm on a massive new plane order in late 2009 because the two sides could not agree on terms and conditions.
Russia’s United Aircraft and China’s Comac have provided jets mostly to their domestic carriers and are largely untested in Western markets, where Boeing and European rival Airbus dominate the market.
source: telegraph.co.uk
Irish Lowcost carrier Ryanair has agreed to display full inclusive ticket prices for its flights upfront on its website from June 1.
Ryanair will join lowcost rivals in improving price transparency including easyJet, Monarch Airlines, bmibaby and Flybe.
The UK regulatory authority said it has been working with airlines to improve the way compulsory fees and taxes are displayed up front.
source: travelweekly.co.uk
