RYANAIR CALLS ON BA TO CUT FUEL SURCHARGES AS OIL PRICES FALL 40%
RYANAIR RELEASE 1 MILLION FREE SEATS FOR TRAVEL IN NOV AND DEC
Ryanair, Britain’s largest airline, today (7th Oct) called on high fare airlines such as British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa and Aer Lingus to reduce their unfair and unjustified fuel surcharges by at least 40%, to reflect the steep fall in oil prices (which have fallen by more than 40% from a high of $146 to under $90 per barrel). Ryanair pointed out that British Airways has recently reduced its cargo fuel surcharges, but continues to scam its passengers for fuel surcharges which reflect oil prices of $146 a barrel, when they are now buying oil at less than $90 a barrel.
Passengers are voting with their feet and deserting BA’s high fare, high fuel surcharge flights in favour of Ryanair’s guaranteed lowest fares and guaranteed no fuel surcharge flights instead. Last week BA’s September traffic figures showed their traffic declining by 6% to 2.7 million passengers in the month, while Ryanair’s figures showed traffic growing 20% to 5.23 million passengers. Thanks to its low fares and no fuel surcharges, Ryanair now carries almost double BA’s world wide passenger numbers.
Ryanair’s table below shows that while oil prices are now almost three times higher than they were in May 2004. BA’s short-haul fuel surcharge is 6 TIMES HIGHER and their long-haul fuel surcharge is over 40 TIMES HIGHER. In fact when oil prices were last under $90 a barrel, BA’s long-haul fuel surcharge was £58, almost half the current £109 they are presently (over)charging.
Speaking today, Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said:
“The evidence of these numbers is conclusive. BA is using these high and unjustified fuel surcharges as a scam to rip off its passengers. BA’s numbers prove that their unfair and unjustified fuel surcharges should be reduced by at least 40% today, to reflect the steep falls in oil prices in recent months. BA should explain why it has reduced its cargo fuel surcharges, but is still screwing its customers for passengers fuel surcharges which reflect oil prices of $146 per barrel.
“The good news for Ryanair is that BA’s high fares and fuel surcharges mean that more and more passengers are deserting BA and choosing Ryanair. Ryanair’s September passenger numbers were up 20%, compared to BA’s 6% traffic decline. Ryanair is now carrying almost double BA’s passenger numbers.
“To celebrate this success and to encourage even more passengers to desert high fare, fuel surcharging rip-off airlines like British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa and Aer Lingus, Ryanair is today releasing 1 million free seats for travel from 15th November to 16th December. These seats are entirely free (they include all taxes and charges, but they must be booked before midnight Thursday 9th October at www.Ryanair.com). As demand for these free seats will be enormous, we urge passengers to continue to abandon BA and other fuel surcharging scam airlines and fly Ryanair”
www.ryanair.com
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