Ryanair criticism about Virgin Express

If i meet that Michael once in Dublin, I swear i start a fight with him. He always thinks he knows better, but he rarely does.

VIRGIN EXPRESS – JUST ANOTHER HIGH FARES AIRLINE
Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline, today (24th Nov 03) welcomed the Q3 results announcement by Virgin Express – Belgium’s high fares airline – which proves that Virgin Express is neither a low cost nor a low fares airline.

Commenting today on Virgin Express’s figures, Ryanair’s Chief Executive, Michael O’Leary said;

“Virgin Express’s average one way fare, as confirmed by their results released this morning, is almost €80. This is almost double the Ryanair average fare of €46 and some 20% higher than Easyjet’s average fare of €68. The problem for Virgin Express is that their fares are much too high, and they can’t compete with real low fares airlines. All they can do is complain about the competition. Virgin Express claim they want a “level playing field”, but when they were offered a level playing field by Brussels Charleroi Airport both two years ago and again two weeks ago, they turned it down in both cases. Virgin Express are afraid to come to Charleroi because they can’t compete with Ryanair’s fares.

“Of the three “so called” low fares airlines (Ryanair, Easyjet and Virgin Express), Virgin Express charges by far the highest fares. Also Virgin Express has the highest costs per passenger and Virgin Express generates the smallest ancillary sales as the following table illustrates.

Ryanair Half Year to 30/9/03 Easyjet Half Year to 30/9/03 Virgin Express Q.3 to 30/9/03
Ave. Pass. Fare €46 €68 €80
Other sales per pass. €6.40 €3.80 €2.46
Ave. Cost per pass. €36 €62 €79

“The problem for Virgin Express is that they are just another high cost, high fares airline. They can’t compete with Ryanair’s low fares, in fact they can’t compete with anybody’s low fares. Earlier this year Virgin Express cancelled their plans to launch a base in Cologne Bonn Airport because of competition from Hapag Lloyd Express and Germanwings.

“Ryanair’s low cost base at Brussels Charleroi has been offered to, and twice rejected by Virgin Express. They prefer to cover up their high fares and high costs by claiming – falsely – that Ryanair receives State Aid at Charleroi. Ryanair has negotiated a low cost base at Charleroi and Ryanair passes it to consumers in lower fares. Virgin Express could do likewise, but Virgin Express don’t really want to sell low fares.

“Virgin Express want the low cost base at Charleroi to be increased, so that Belgian consumers and visitors are forced to pay higher fares. The only way for Virgin Express’s results to improve is if their competitors are forced to pay higher costs and charge higher fares.

“Ryanair will continue to lower fares, we will continue to expand our low cost base at Brussels Charleroi, and we suggest that Virgin Express do likewise. The future success of Virgin Express depends on competing with other airlines, by offering low fares and not just complaining about competitors.”

What I have to say about this:
Virgin Express flies to primarily airports in most cases so you pay the higher landing rights and taxes of these airports. This article really doesnt make any sense, wlel okay it’s true about the fares but still.

There was also that banner the other day on Ryanair’s website where Ryanair showed how cheaper they were on the “common” routes. Bull****, if you pay a bus to the center from that miles-away airport that ryanair uses, you might pay even more than with easyjet.

Stop it, Mr. O’Leary!