Ryanair and Flybe in advertising stunt battle at Southampton airport
24.02.07
There was an advertising stunt battle at Southampton Airport this week between Southampton based Flybe and Bournemouth Airport based Ryanair. It flared when Ryanair tried to entice Flybe's customers away by driving an advertising van around the airport claiming that its flights were cheaper. But Flybe retaliated by hiring its own advertising truck to follow Ryanair's, accusing it of 'taking the Michael'.
Ryanair started the battle, driving a van around Southampton airport with advert on it saying: 'If you are looking for low fares, you are at the wrong airport! Fly cheaper from Bournemouth.' Flybe has hit back with a personal attack on Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary saying: 'Desperate Michael taking the Michael.'
Yesterday Flybe's mobile hoarding could be seen carefully tailing Ryanair's while it was driven around Southampton Airport. At one stage Flybe managing director Ian Taylor even managed to pose between the two trucks, after the Ryanair van got stuck at a junction with Flybe's truck still following close behind.
Mr Taylor said: 'Ryanair are suffering with their figures out of Bournemouth, and more people are flying to Dublin from Southampton than they are from Bournemouth with Ryanair. Also passengers have realised that, for example, when you fly with Flybe to Glasgow you arrive in Glasgow, as opposed to Ryanair where you will end up in Prestwick.'
To book southampton airport hotel or southampton airport car parking at the lowest price, click on these links to two great southampton airport parking and southampton airport hotel price comparison pages.
