Ryanair Holdings (RYAAY)
Ryanair Holdings plc operates a scheduled passenger airline serving routes between Ireland, the U.K. and Continental Europe.
As of September 15, 2006, with its operating fleet of 107 new Boeing 737-800 ‘next generation’ aircraft, the company offered approximately 750 scheduled short-haul flights per day serving 115 locations throughout Europe, including 24 in the U.K. and Ireland.
Route System
As of September 15, 2006, the company offers approximately 750 scheduled short-haul flights per day serving 115 locations throughout Europe, including 24 locations in the U.K. and Ireland, flying approximately 305 routes.
Routes served by the company include - between Dublin and London (Stansted); between London (Stansted) and Rome (Ciampino); between Glasgow (Prestwick) and London (Stansted); between London (Stansted) and Cork; between Dublin and London (Gatwick); between London (Stansted) and Barcelona (Girona); between London (Stansted) and Frankfurt (Hahn); between Dublin and London (Luton); between London (Stansted) and Venice (Treviso); and between London (Stansted) and Shannon.
During 2005, the company announced 159 new routes and extended its operations to three new countries, adding destinations in Slovakia, Morocco and Croatia from airports in the U.K. and elsewhere in Europe. In March 2006, the company announced further expansion of its European base at Pisa, Italy with an increase in the number of aircraft based there from two to three and the addition of five new routes starting in September 2006.
The company also announced in March 2006 the expansion of its Shannon base with an increase in aircraft from three to four starting in October 2006. In April 2006, Ryanair announced the expansion of its Liverpool base starting in October 2006 with the addition of two aircraft and 11 routes. Two aircraft and nine new routes are expected to be added to Ryanair's Frankfurt Hahn base starting in October 2006. In May 2006, the company announced a new base at Marseille, France, expected to commence operations in November 2006.
The company plans to base two new aircraft at Marseille to serve thirteen routes, including Marseille to Brussels (Charleroi), Dublin, Eindhoven, Fez, Frankfurt (Hahn), Glasgow, Karlsruhe Baden, London (Stansted), Marrakech, Oujda, Oslo, Porto and Rome (Ciampino). In September 2006, the company announced a new base at Bremen, Germany, expected to commence operations in April 2007, which would bring the number of bases to 17. The company plans to base three new aircraft at Bremen to serve nine routes, including Bremen to Riga, London (Stansted), Tampere, Torp, Venice (Treviso), Verona, Barcelona (Girona), Murcia and Pisa.
Aircraft
As of September 15, 2006, the company’s operating fleet included 107 Boeing 737-800 ‘next generation’ aircraft, each having 189 seats. The company’s fleet totaled 103 Boeing 737-800s at March 31, 2006.
Boeing 737-800s: The company took delivery of 107 new Boeing 737-800 ‘next generation’ aircraft under its contracts with Boeing. The new 737-800s share certain basic characteristics with Ryanair's prior fleet of 737-200A aircraft, which were retired by December 2005, but are (seating up to 189 passengers, as compared to 130 in the 727-200As), capable of longer flights without refueling and incorporate improved aviation technology. As of January 2005, 89 firm aircraft remained to be delivered under those agreements, and the company had options to purchase an additional 123 aircraft. In February 2005, the company entered into an agreement with Boeing for the purchase of a further 70 new Boeing 737-800s, and purchase options for an additional 70 such aircraft.
Boeing 737-200As: Ryanair completed the phase-out of its 737-200A aircraft in December 2005, with the retirement of its nine remaining aircraft.
Ancillary Services
The company provides various ancillary services and engages in other activities connected with its core air passenger service, including non-flight scheduled services, the in-flight sale of beverages, food and merchandise, and internet-related services.
The company, as part of its non-flight scheduled and internet-related services, distributes accommodation services and travel insurance through both its Web site and its traditional telephone reservation offices. The company sells bus and rail tickets on-board its aircraft and also sells rail tickets through its Web site. The company incentivizes ground service providers at the airports it serves to collect excess baggage charges on baggage that exceeds Ryanair's published baggage allowances. The company also charges customers a fixed fee to defray the administrative costs incurred in processing debit and credit card transactions.
The company, for car rental services, has a contract with the Hertz Corporation (Hertz), pursuant to which Hertz handles the automobile-related aspects of such services and pays a per-rental fee to Ryanair.com (or other relevant reservations agent) and a set amount to Ryanair for marketing support. The company also receives a commission on Hertz car rentals booked through the Ryanair.com Web site.
The company’s internet-related services, from Ryanair.com, include hotel accommodation, travel insurance, and car hire services. The company also acts as an agent for MBNA and Barclaycard, both issuers of Visa credit cards. As part of its agreements with MBNA and Barclaycard, Ryanair promotes a Ryanair-branded credit card supplied by MBNA and Barclaycard on the aircraft, on Ryanair's internet site, and via direct marketing at the airports served by Ryanair in the U.K. and Ireland.
In September 2006, the company entered into a letter of intent with On Air, a provider of mobile voice and data solutions for aircraft, for the equipment for its aircraft to provide mobile phone and blackberry services to passengers. The company plans to install this equipment on its aircraft.
Airport Handling Services
The company provides its own aircraft and passenger handling and ticketing services at Dublin Airport. Third parties provide the services to Ryanair at the other airports it serves. Servisair plc provides Ryanair's ticketing, passenger and aircraft handling and ground handling services at the airports in Ireland and the U.K., excluding London (Stansted) (where the services are provided primarily by Swissport Ltd.), while similar services in continental Europe are generally provided by the local airport authority, either directly or through sub-contractors.
Competition
The company’s principal competitor includes Aer Lingus plc; Lufthansa AG; Air France; easyJet; Iberia; and British Airways.
History
Ryanair Holdings plc was founded in 1985.
