THIS SEASON AVIATION PROFILE Ryanair
Ryanair’s attempts to rebrand itself as a more passenger-friendly airline look set to continue into 2015, after it confirmed it’s considering the introduction of in-flight entertainment. Te no-frills carrier, famous for its low fares, stripped back service and
heavy preference for ancillary charges, will offer passengers the chance to watch films and television programmes on their mobile phones and tablets for free. Te service, earmarked for flights over two hours in length, will be completely funded by advertising. Ryanair will trial the in-flight entertainment on selected routes out of
Dublin over the summer. If these trials are successful, the service will be rolled out across its fleet of more than 300 aircraft in 2016. However, the airline is unlikely to follow this up with in-flight wi-fi, as
chief technology officer John Hurley has described the technology needed for this as “too costly”. Te move is the latest part of Ryanair’s Always Getting Better strategy,
in which it promised to change ‘things customers don’t like’. It has since introduced a host of passenger friendly measures, including an increase in hand luggage allowance, reduction of many of its unpopular charges, introduction of allocated seating and simplification of its booking process. It was also one of the first airlines to begin the process of refunding
passengers following Chancellor George Osborne’s decision to scrap Air Passenger Duty (APD) for children under 12 from 1 May. Te airline has pledged to refund for all children booked on flights departing from the UK from 27 March, so that families will benefit from the tax change over Easter.
ryanair.com
Luton to Essaouira
Where are we going? Essaouira with EasyJet, which has announced it will be launching the UK’s only direct flight to the Moroccan coastal city out of London’s Luton airport. The service launches in May and bookings are now open.
What are the details? EasyJet will fly from Luton to Essaouira twice weekly. Outbound flights will leave Luton at 06.40 on Monday and Friday, arriving in Essaouira at 10.20. Fares are from £68 outbound and £35 for the return journey. EasyJet expects more than 29,000 passengers will be carried on the route during 2015.
Why? Although Essaouira is a popular destination with tourists, the lack of direct flights represents a clear gap in the market. Currently, most UK tourists arrive by bus or private transfer from Marrakech. EasyJet’s new route will open up the ancient port city as a more popular holiday destination.
What’s new?
Vietnam Airlines will increase the frequency of its service between London and Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City following its switch from Gatwick to Terminal 4 at Heathrow from 31 March. The increase to daily flights will coincide with the introduction of the airline’s new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the route in July.
vietnamairlines.com
What’s in Essaouira? The 18th-century walled town has long sandy beaches and big Atlantic waves for surfers. Meanwhile, its UNESCO-listed centre is home to a historic walled medina, which provides a more gentle shopping experience than the country’s other big city souks. It also hosts the Gnaoua world music festival each summer in June. Musician Jimi Hendrix famously spent time there in the late 1960s and the city retains some of its bohemian spirit.
Who else flies there? Transavia flies direct to Essaouira from Paris and Brussels, while British Airways, Royal Air Maroc, EasyJet, Ryanair and Thomson Airways all fly from the UK to Marrakech.
easyjet.com
NEW ROUTES
countrybycountry.com
February 2015 ABTA Magazine 19
IMAGES: GETTY; AIRBUS S.A.S; RYANAIR AIRCRAFT
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