Ryanair also announced the launch of a new Customer Advisory Panel that will invite Ryanair customers all over Europe to come together to provide feedback and recommendations that will help Ryanair continue to improve its guest services.
Ryanair called on the Irish Government to lift travel restrictions, including Ireland’s unique and failed hotel quarantine, for travel to and from the UK and the European Union.
Ryanair calls for the immediate removal of all travel restrictions from the end of May, for air travel to and from the UK and European Union countries based on the following facts:
- There are less than 100 patients in Irish hospitals suffering from the Covid-19 virus.
- All of Ireland’s high-risk groups (the elderly, health service, nursing homes, etc.) have now been vaccinated, eliminating any Covid risk of our hospitals and health service being overwhelmed.
- First dose vaccination rates in the EU are now approaching 40% of all adults receiving at least their first dose vaccine.
- The UK have now first dose vaccinated more than 60% of its adult population, yet UK visitors that fly to Ireland are still required to quarantine for 14 days, when visitors from Northern Ireland can drive across the border with no restrictions whatsoever, and Irish citizens can travel to the UK without any quarantine.
Ryanair’s CEO Eddie Wilson said: “Thanks to the success of the UK’s vaccine program, there is no justification for requiring visitors to Ireland from the UK (our major visitor market) to quarantine. The vast majority of the UK adult population have now received their first dose vaccination, and therefore pose no threat or risk to Ireland’s hospitals or health service. Equally as Ireland and other EU countries vaccine programs exceed 33% (with most of the high-risk groups now fully vaccinated) and with most of Europe on track to vaccinate 80% of its adult population with first dose vaccines by the end of June, there is no need or requirement for Ireland to maintain travel restrictions on UK and Intra-EU air travel from the end of May onwards.
Ireland’s travel restrictions are now outdated, inappropriate and unnecessary for air travel to/from the UK, and the European Union, where successful vaccination programs have eliminated any risk to our hospitals and health services. It’s time our Government got the country and our tourism industry back to work, and we call again on Minister Eamonn Ryan to action the Aviation Task Force Report he received in July 2020 – 10 months ago – which has been gathering dust on his desk for 10 months with no action taken whatsoever.
Passengers all over Europe have been booking Ryanair flights in huge volumes over recent weeks as travel restrictions are lifted. It is inappropriate and unnecessary for Ireland to maintain its unique, and ineffective hotel quarantine system for EU visitors, the majority of whom will now be vaccinated, coming from the UK and Europe. Let’s end the travel restrictions on EU travel from the end of May.”
Ryanair launches new Customer Advisory panel
Ryanair also announced the launch of a new Customer Advisory Panel that will invite Ryanair customers all over Europe to come together to provide feedback and recommendations that will help Ryanair continue to improve its guest services.
As part of its first Customer Advisory Panel meeting this autumn, successful applicants will be flown to Ryanair’s Dublin office to participate in a Customer Care event to help Ryanair improve its service. Panel applicants can look forward to future Customer Advisory Panel meetings at exciting major European cities such as Madrid, Rome, Berlin, Warsaw and more. The recommendations from the Panel will shape Ryanair’s 2022 customer improvements program, re-enforcing Ryanair’s commitment to delivering the lowest fares, on-time flights and great customer service.
Ryanair’s new Customer Advisory Panel is one of several customer care initiatives to be rolled out in 2021. Applications must be submitted on Ryanair.com before May 31st and successful applicants will be notified before June 14th. Flights and hotel accommodation for panel members (and a partner) will be covered by Ryanair and panel members will have the opportunity to explore Dublin City on their 2-night trip.
Ryanair’s Director of Marketing & Digital, Dara Brady said: “We are excited to announce our first ever Customer Advisory Panel to allow customers help us drive improvements in Ryanair’s customer care and service. While Ryanair cannot be beaten for low fares, choice and on-time flights, as we grow to 200m passengers p.a, we are determined to keep listening to our customers and improving our service to them.
Our new Customer Advisory Panel will provide us with direct feedback and recommendations from customers and will help us deliver an improved service for our guests throughout 2022 and beyond. As Ryanair emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic customers can look forward to even more service improvements on new aircraft at even lower prices”.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
