Ryanair boss gives more details on long-haul plans
22.05.07
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary is keen to include Liverpool in plans for a low-cost, long-haul transatlantic route. In an exclusive interview with the Liverpool Echo, he said a US link from Liverpool could be in place within 3 to 4 years, offering a 'cheap economy cabin and a big business cabin' to make the route viable.
He envisages direct routes to eight destinations. He said: 'They could include New York, Boston, Florida, Dallas, Denver and San Francisco, possibly from places like Paris and Frankfurt and Liverpool.' Prices could start from £7 one way served by a fleet of 40 to 50 long-haul aircraft.
Mr O'Leary insisted the project would not involve Ryanair. He said: 'I did an interview which asked me about the viability of low cost, long haul flights and next thing everyone was saying that Ryanair was planning to set it up. You could set up a long haul, low cost airline. There's a market for it, but it won't be Ryanair.'
He said the most likely route would be through a separate company set up by Ryanair shareholders or investors and added: 'I would be interested in setting it up if the opportunity arose, but it would not be me managing it or running it. It would be headed up by someone other than me. People would accuse me of charging by the mile.'
Mr O'Leary said the market was not ready for the flights, made possible by the 'open skies' agreement between Europe and US. He said that: 'It depends on cheap aircraft. Prices are too high. It is probably three or four years away.'
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book liverpool airport hotels or liverpool airport parking at the lowest price, click on these links to two great liverpool airport parking and liverpool airport hotels price comparison pages.
