Bye Bye British Airways, Bye Bye
Ryanair launches new Dublin-Newcastle route with special January fare of Ł9.99
British Airways today announced its intention to withdraw three further routes from Ireland in addition to the services from Cork and Shannon which were withdrawn last year. The airline announced that it would close its routes from Dublin to Leeds Bradford, Newcastle and Southampton in March next year.

This is the latest evidence that British Airways is unable to compete with Ryanair’s low fares. On the Dublin-Bristol route, Ryanair’s market share is currently 80% to British Airways 20%, and in the case of the Newcastle and Southampton routes, British Airways is unable to match either Ryanair’s fares or passenger numbers from Dublin to Middlesborough/Teesside and Bournemouth airports.

Responding to this news Ryanair, Europe’s only low fares airline today announced the inauguration of a daily service from Dublin to Newcastle commencing on Saturday 4th January 2003. All seats in the first month will be for sale at a special introductory fare of Ł9.99 one way (tax inclusive). This represents a discount of 91% on the British Airways one way fare.

Announcing the new service, Ryanair’s Commercial Director, Michael Cawley said: “Ryanair has been providing links between Dublin and the North East of England ever since its Teesside service started in 1997. Passenger numbers have increased ever year on this route and such has been its success that we are now announcing the inauguration of the a daily service from Newcastle to Dublin to offer our low fare services on an even wider basis across the North East of England.

“This service will offer low fares for the first time to Tynesiders and to those many thousands of Irish people who want to visit Newcastle and see the Magpies in action. British Airways may be gone from this route, but for the first time the people of Newcastle will be able to enjoy widely available low fares from Ryanair as their compatriots have at our 14 other airports throughout the UK.

To celebrate this announcement we are offering all seats for sale in January at the fantastic low fare of Ł9.99 one-way (tax inclusive).

Booking commences at 10.00am Wednesday 18th December.”

What's the purpose of this post? Do you

a) just really, really hate British Airways?
b) work for Ryanair's marketing department?
c) have a crush on Michael O'Leary?

Answers on a postage stamp please.

Whatever your reason is I'm pretty sure it doesn't belong in FT Community.

Maybe I can make a buck and sell him an Irish stamp so this thread can go Airmail to "In The News".

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And for what reason do you feel it does not belong on FT ???? I think it great that Ryanair have smashed the monopoly BA had on regional airports in the UK, or is it that you are put off by the fact the common man can now afford to fly ??

It does not belong into FT Community. Period. FT Community is the The official get together page for the FlyerTalk community. I can't see that your post is related to this.

It does not belong in the Community section of Flyertalk, as this section is for get togethers. Pretty clear to me.

We seem to have a new virus on FT. SF, please post things like this where they belong: IN THE NEWS or even the BA forum, but not here in COMMUNITY. You only alienate the rest of us, and raise suspicions about your motives here.