| Carrier: | Ryanair
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| Headquarters: | Ireland
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| Founded: | 1985
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| Destinations: | 127
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| Bases: | Dublin
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| Owners: | Public
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| Listed: | Yes
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| Online Booking: | Yes
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| Website: | http://www.ryanair.com
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| Fleet | B737-800 120 + 120 on order
| Overview - Ryanair Ryanair – the juggernaut continues The Irish-headquartered, London-based LCC may not be the most lovable airline in the world, but it is quite likely the most successful.
Ryanair seemingly makes a point of delivering the least pleasant flying experience possible (eg removing window shades and recline features from its aircraft) and exploring new boundaries of political incorrectness. Its public row over accommodating disabled passengers and its perpetual war with airport authorities over charges are just two examples. However, every year it delivers results that its shareholders love: its 3 pt drop in net profit margin last year still yielded a result of 18%. This compares with easyJet’s 3%, British Airways’ 6% and US paragon Southwest’s 7%.
The carrier achieves these results by focusing like a laser on costs and maintaining an aggressive growth pattern. While other carriers, including chief rival easyJet, have a more revenue-focused business model, for Ryanair it is all about costs; thus the stripped-down service and the usage of secondary airports. A key way it keeps expenditure low is by constantly growing, spreading its fixed costs over a wider base. This winter it plans to add two more bases to the 16 it has spread throughout Europe, with Marseilles (added in May-06 and from which it serves three north African cities) the most recent. Speaking of where to install its constantly growing fleet of B737s – of which it has 135 on order – the company says: “Vast swathes of Europe remain empty.”
Outlook bright for low cost standard-bearer As long as the carrier keeps its fares lower than anyone else, the Irish LCC will maintain its 25% annual passenger growth (42 million forecast for 2006). And, with ancillary revenues growing faster than ticket revenues, continued profitability seems virtually assured. Bases Dublin International Airport, London Stansted Airport, Rome Ciampino Airport, Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport, Orio al Serio Airport, Frankfurt-Hahn Airport, Cork International Airport, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, London Luton Airport, Girona, Stockholm-Skavsta Airport, Shannon International Airport, Charleroi Brussels South, East Midlands Airport, Madrid Barajas International Airport, Marseille Provence Airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, Bremen Airport
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