Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Back he goes... Press Association Images

Not happening: Ryanair says it won't be flying to the US after all

On Monday, it was reported that Ryanair was looking at plans to fly between a dozen European and US cities.

Updated at 11pm

RYANAIR SAYS IT won’t be launching a transatlantic schedule anytime soon – despite reports to the contrary at the start of the week.

According to a statement today:

“In the light of recent press coverage, the Board of Ryanair Holdings Plc wishes to clarify that it has not considered or approved any transatlantic project and does not intend to do so.”

On Monday, the Financial Times reported Ryanair was looking at plans to fly between a dozen European and US cities within four or five years.

It quoted the airline as saying:

The board of Ryanair … has approved the business plans for future growth, including transatlantic.

It said some transatlantic fares would be sold for as little as £10 (€14), but that the majority would be priced at higher rates.

Chief executive Michael O’Leary has previously flagged the move – but back in November said the company was still years away from pulling off the expansion because of a global backlog in long-haul plane orders.

The low-cost carrier launched a new website for US customers to book European flights at the end of last year.

READ: Ryanair set to bring Spanish ‘ghost airport’ back to life >

READ: Michael O’Leary will be happy: There was a lot of good news for Ryanair today >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
49 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mike Johnston
    Favourite Mike Johnston
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 8:22 PM

    Meh. Too good to be true so!

    321
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Roche
    Favourite Paul Roche
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 10:01 PM

    Too uncertain?
    We need dollaz, dollaz…

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Byyys
    Favourite Byyys
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 9:37 AM

    So much for the “It’s official” title posted on Monday…..

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mike
    Favourite Mike
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 8:28 PM

    They have no long haul planes ordered. The 200 Boeing 737s ordered cannot travel that distance. It will be after 2020 before they expand to North America. I bet the board at Aerlingus and BA are happy about that

    163
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Smith
    Favourite John Smith
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 8:36 PM

    The backlog for dreamliners means that even if they put the order in now they wouldn’t have them until then anyway

    97
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason
    Favourite Jason
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 8:48 PM

    The Boeing 737-800 can travel that distance. Boeing fly them from Seattle to Dublin or whatever base FR need them at. Empty perhaps and no luggage etc, but fly across the Atlantic they do.

    53
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cian O Donoghue
    Favourite Cian O Donoghue
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 8:51 PM

    Obviously he meant as a commercial flight. But you knew that…

    149
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute brian magee
    Favourite brian magee
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 11:53 PM

    With an order of 200 planes they ien the production lines. I’m sure they could say give us 150 short haul and 50 long haul or something if the sort

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Browne
    Favourite Peter Browne
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 1:44 AM

    It’s not a sweet shop Brian.

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard
    Favourite Richard
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 3:05 PM

    WestJet fly from Dublin to Canada in them…

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bobo Delaney
    Favourite Bobo Delaney
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 8:36 PM

    Any time over 2 hours on a Ryan Air flight would cause any human to become disillusional.

    112
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Byrne
    Favourite Dave Byrne
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 8:34 PM

    A 737 can fly across the ocean but not configured with 189 seats which Ryanair use at present.

    71
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason
    Favourite Jason
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 8:44 PM

    Obviously it can, how do you think they get them from Seattle to Dublin?

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason
    Favourite Jason
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 8:50 PM

    They’re fully configured to Ryanairs spec prior to delivery.

    21
    See 7 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Byrne
    Favourite Dave Byrne
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 8:51 PM

    First of all they don’t fly a fully laden B 737 with pax from Boeing to Ireland it’s done by 2 flight crew,With the aircraft equipped with HF radio.
    BA operate a flight from London City with a stop off at Shannon for full fuel tanks and border clearance before heading to JFK.
    It’s an A319 which in its normal configuration can hold 190 odd pax,The BA flight has seats for around 50.

    64
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Stanley
    Favourite Tony Stanley
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 10:27 PM

    Actually Dave it’s an A318 they use on that route!!!!

    But as for Ryanair, no they cannot operate a fully laden 737 from Dublin to say New York!!!!
    Delivery flights from Seattle generally make fuelling stops!

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Byrne
    Favourite Dave Byrne
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 10:40 PM

    Ah I knew it was either a 318 or 319 on the LCY JFK route . ,A Boeing 757 is the nearest to a single aisle aircraft that can do the route comfortably with no fuel stops.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute J
    Favourite J
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 11:20 PM

    Get a room lads….. or a cabin.

    95
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute B738NG
    Favourite B738NG
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 11:20 PM

    No fuel stops Tony, the B738 makes its all the way from BFI to DUB on full tanks, it would never do it with 189 pax though, they would need to configure it to between 125-135 and that would only be all economy, to make it just to JFK, if they wanted a business class it would have to be less again.
    BA have two of their A318-100′s configured for the JFK run, they have 32 all business class seats, lovely jet on the inside.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
    Favourite Neal Ireland Hello
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 6:56 AM

    Jason they are not full of passengers and luggage when they fly them for delivery purposes.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Drew
    Favourite Drew
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 7:12 AM

    757s run from 2nd tier airports in Europe Vienna, Milan, Zurich, etc to the East coast of the United States…

    It’s generally within the limit of their range but sometimes if there’s strong headwinds across the Atlantic. They have to stop in Dublin or Shannon to refuel.

    A 777 can make it London to Sydney now if it’s empty, the New 777 ER coming at the end of the decade will be able to run the kangaroo route fully loaded non-stop.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Asea-biz-ireland
    Favourite Asea-biz-ireland
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 8:26 PM

    I wonder would it be possible for them to set up a hub in somewhere like Greenland/Iceland, and do the journey in two legs on smaller jets?

    68
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan b
    Favourite Alan b
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 8:30 PM

    And clear US immigration in the states.
    fcuk that.you’ve obviously never had the headache of that

    88
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eamonn Duggan
    Favourite Eamonn Duggan
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 8:45 PM

    Iceland air are doing just that, using 757′ you stop over in Reykavik

    57
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Stanley
    Favourite Tony Stanley
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 10:28 PM

    And wow air are doing it from Dublin to Boston and New York via Reykjavik!

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Guru
    Favourite The Guru
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 9:15 PM

    Wait so you’re saying the Daily Mirror made something up!? God help us all. This story comes around every couple of years and is always based on nothing.

    60
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aasif
    Favourite Aasif
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 8:34 PM

    With the euro/dollar nearly on par there will be less people holidaying in the u.s so maybe it’s a good thing there is a backlog for long haul planes

    55
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan b
    Favourite Alan b
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 9:05 PM

    Assif I’d imagine with the dollar been so good it would encourage the yanks to come over here.the airlines bring Americans here too.who’d have thought it eh

    74
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aasif
    Favourite Aasif
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 9:14 PM

    Most Americans build up air miles when they do their shopping in American stores so will use AA to fly to Europe

    12
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan b
    Favourite Alan b
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 9:24 PM

    So you’re telling me most of the American tourists that come to Europe. The tens of thousands of them each year have come by building up their air miles by shopping?

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Clive Hand
    Favourite Clive Hand
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 9:38 PM

    60% of Aer Lingus transatlantic ticket sales originate from outside Ireland.

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute William Grogan
    Favourite William Grogan
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 9:47 PM

    Clive, wouldn’t you expect 50/50 anyway?

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Resel
    Favourite Resel
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 9:04 PM

    Don’t think I could fly to the states being packed in like sardines.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Donnelly
    Favourite Michael Donnelly
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 9:10 PM

    I would if it costs a tenner!

    87
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ken carr
    Favourite ken carr
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 9:41 PM

    Don’t care if it cost a tenor. It would be a jail sentence to fly 6 hours at least on a Ryanair plain. Good plains and prices if you flying 2-3 hours max with Ryanair. But not for 6 hour flight

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John S
    Favourite John S
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 10:01 PM

    Good for you. I’ll have that seat then!

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute B738NG
    Favourite B738NG
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 11:25 PM

    People already do it Ken, Ryanair operate flights from Northern Scandinavia to the Canaries, its around 5h 45mins and the planes are always full

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aidan Doyle
    Favourite Aidan Doyle
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 8:52 PM

    No such thing as bad publicity

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Stanley
    Favourite Tony Stanley
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 10:29 PM

    Well that news is absolutely no big surprise to anyone in the industry!!!!!

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Corrigan
    Favourite David Corrigan
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 12:53 AM

    The coin operated toilets, the bigger plane doors, and now cheap trips to America… When will you ever learn the media? O’Leary is a player looking for free advertising and you just got played!

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute tom
    Favourite tom
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 9:07 AM

    This could be very serious for Ryanair.
    The stock market has been mislead for a couple of days. It questions the trust of their management.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Asea-biz-ireland
    Favourite Asea-biz-ireland
    Report
    Mar 19th 2015, 8:37 PM

    Many times Alan b, lived there for 4 years.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ken carr
    Favourite ken carr
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 7:34 AM

    Flu Ryanair from Spain last month. I’m not a big person by any means. And i had just enough seat room. Can’t see many overweight Americans using Ryanair if they don’t use bigger aircraft with more seat room than present

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Danny Supafly Kehoe
    Favourite Danny Supafly Kehoe
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 12:49 AM

    Westjet fly 737 between Dublin and Toronto.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Will Monaghan
    Favourite Will Monaghan
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 1:27 AM

    With a stop over at the first bit of land they find (St. John’s)

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Danny Supafly Kehoe
    Favourite Danny Supafly Kehoe
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 1:40 AM

    Yes they do but they still fly it so it can be done. Also 737-800 has enough range to fly Dublin to new York.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
    Favourite Chris Mcdonnell
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 1:51 AM

    Good old Ryanair

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Resel
    Favourite Resel
    Report
    Mar 21st 2015, 8:04 AM

    Did they benefit on the stockmarket from this stunt? Shares would have risen with the expansion announcement. Sell before the 2nd announcement. Easy money!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dirk Jansen
    Favourite Dirk Jansen
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 10:39 AM

    I would think that Michael would have been very gracious and thankful to his board, when he returned from OZ yesterday. The rumours of ground level turbulence around Swords are not true. Didn’t hear a beep from the ‘connectivity’ lobby, they probably could not articulate their feelings as well as Michael is supposed to have done, when he ‘found out’.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Danny Supafly Kehoe
    Favourite Danny Supafly Kehoe
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 1:37 AM

    Yes that’s true but 737-800 still has enough range to fly Dublin to new York fully loaded.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      News in 60 seconds