Flightmapping > News > Feb 04 > Ryanair stop flights to Brussels
RYANAIR TO CLOSE BRUSSELS-LONDON ROUTE
Ryanair, Europe's No.1 low fares airline today (26th February 04) published its Summer schedule at Brussels Charleroi Airport and confirmed that it was terminating its Brussels-London route with effect from 29 April next. The current Charleroi-London route operates with up to 8 daily flights, carries over 360,000 passengers annually, with these customers saving over €36m per annum compared to the higher fare alternatives from Zaventem.
Ryanair confirmed that this 10% reduction in daily flights at Charleroi was the first element of its response to the European Commission's recent decision to increase costs at Charleroi and require that Ryanair's passengers should pay higher fares. Ryanair will appeal this decision to the European Court in Luxembourg, but while this appeal is underway, there will be reductions in flights and services at Brussels Charleroi, as aircraft capacity is reallocated to other lower cost airports.
Announcing these cutbacks today, Ryanair's Chief Executive, Michael O'Leary said;
"These capacity reductions are bad news for customers at Brussels Charleroi, but good news for other lower cost airports. As the Brussels-London route had the lowest fares, this route cannot be sustained if costs are to be increased as a result of the Commission's decision to increase ticket prices by €6 to €8 per ticket. These flights will now operate on lower cost routes between private airports such as London Stansted, Glasgow Prestwick, Stockholm Skavsta and London Luton.
"Ryanair will shortly be meeting with Brussels Charleroi Airport and the Walloon authorities to agree a way forward. If these talks result in a new agreement with a similar low cost base as before then Ryanair's low fares will continue at Charleroi. However if costs are increased, or the Walloon Authorities do not share our vision for the lowest possible air fares for ordinary people then there will be further flight reductions and route closures, as aircraft are sent to other airports where the cost base is already significantly lower than Ryanair's original costs at Charleroi Airport"
Flightmapping comment:
This may also have something to do with the increased success of Eurostar between London and Brussels, following the opening of the first phase of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link late last year.
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