BUSINESS NEWS


Michael O’Leary: ‘Legacy carriers want to keep planes on the ground next summer’


O’Leary: Ryanair will be Europe’s low-cost carrier


Airline boss foresees a strong recovery and wants slots freed up. Ian Taylor reports


Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has forecast a “strong post-Covid recovery” but accused rival carriers of wanting to keep aircraft on the ground next year to raise fares. O’Leary said Ryanair would


emerge from the pandemic as “the European low-cost carrier” alongside network airlines Lufthansa, Air France-KLM and British Airways- owner IAG, and questioned whether easyJet would remain “an independent fifth carrier”. Speaking on a webcast hosted


by European air traffic organisation 48 10 DECEMBER 2020


Eurocontrol, O’Leary said: “The legacy airlines are going to be slow and squat on their slots. They are trying to maintain the [EU and UK] slot waiver. The legacy guys have taken out 10%-20% of capacity. I’m not sure that will come back. They want to come back with less capacity and higher prices. They want to keep planes on the ground next summer.” The EU and UK have waived a


rule that normally means airlines must use take-off and landing slots at constrained airports 80% of the time or lose them. The rule is suspended until March, but major airlines are


lobbying for the waiver to be extended through summer 2021. O’Leary insisted: “It is imperative


we come back with more capacity. But we could be prevented if the EU extends the slot waiver. “One of the critical issues is going


to be can we lower prices – air traffic control charges, taxes – to get people flying again.” O’Leary said: “I’ve been predicting


Norwegian Air’s bankruptcy for two years. Eventually, it has come. The


Continued on page 46 travelweekly.co.uk


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