Eight new routes, more flights on 36 business routes – Athens, Basel, Bordeaux, Bucharest, Perpignan, Prague, Rabat and Skelleftea.
Ryanair released its London Stansted 2014 winter schedule, with 8 new routes and increased flights on 36 other routes, which will deliver growth of 2m customers p.a. and support 2,000 new on-site jobs at London Stansted Airport.
Ryanair’s winter 2014 schedule at London Stansted will deliver:
- 8 new routes: Athens, Basel, Bordeaux, Bucharest, Perpignan, Prague, Rabat & Skelleftea
- 109 Stansted routes in total
- Growth from 490 to over 700 weekly flights
- Increased frequencies & improved schedules on 36 business routes
- Over 2m new Ryanair customers p.a. at Stansted (15.1m in total)
- Over 2,000 additional jobs sustained at Stansted Airport
In London, Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said: “Ryanair is pleased to launch our London Stansted 2014 winter schedule, with 8 new routes to Athens, Basel, Bordeaux, Bucharest, Perpignan, Prague, Rabat and Skelleftea, as well as increased frequencies on 36 other routes, all of which go on sale on the Ryanair.com website tomorrow. As Stansted’s biggest airline, Ryanair looks forward to continuing to work closely with M.A.G. to grow traffic, routes and jobs at Stansted Airport.
Our 8 new winter routes with multiple daily frequencies are ideal for business passengers or families booking a winter sun or ski getaway. Ryanair customers can also enjoy our recent customer service improvements including a second free carry-on bag, allocated seating and the use of portable electronic devices, with further improvements to be rolled out over the coming months.”
London Stansted Managing Director, Andrew Harrison, said: “Today’s announcement is fantastic news for Stansted. Ryanair is a very valued customer and the boost to next winter’s schedules, including new destinations and increased frequencies on key routes, gives leisure and business passengers even greater choice at great value and builds on the strength of Ryanair’s extensive network here at Stansted, their largest base in Europe.
M.A.G. acquired Stansted to unlock its full potential and return the airport to sustained growth. We’re making excellent progress with our £80m investment to transform the terminal building and the new security search area – double the size of the previous – is already open for business and work is now underway to transform services and facilities for passengers in the departure lounge.
Ryanair passengers are already benefiting from customer service improvements including a second free bag and allocated seating with more changes to come. Ryanair is changing, Stansted is changing and today’s announcement is further evidence that we are succeeding in transforming Stansted under our new ownership.”
Ryanair is highest rates airline in the world by Standard & Poor’s
Ryanair Holdings Plc also announced that it received a BBB+ rating (modified from a-) from Standard & Poor’s making it the highest rated airline in the world. This rating reflects the fundamental strength of Ryanair’s business model which has delivered a track record of high levels of profitability, superior cash generation, and a very strong balance sheet with low levels of leverage. Ryanair has undertaken the rating process (with Citibank as advisors) as part of its plans to access capital markets to source secured and unsecured debt financing for its new 175 Boeing 737-800 aircraft order.
Ryanair has also completed a 70m euros systematic share buyback programme announced in December 20, 2013 bringing the total share buybacks in FY14 to 484m. euros.
Ryanair’s CFO & Deputy Chief Executive Howard Millar said: “We are very pleased with the Standard & Poor’s rating of BBB+ (modified from a-), which makes Ryanair the highest rated airline in the world and reflects the financial strength of Ryanair’s business model. The successful achievement of this BBB+ rating is part of our plan to access the capital markets to finance the purchase of our 175 Boeing 737-800 order via both secured and unsecured debt offerings. The BBB+ rating will enable us to achieve lower cost financing to ensure that we continue to have the lowest costs and the lowest fares in Europe.
The completion of our 70m euros systematic share buyback programme announced in December brings the total share buybacks completed in FY14 to 484m euros significantly ahead of our original 400m euros target”.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
