tenthije
September 26, 2004 at 9:25 pm

now on Belgian TV (Canvas), interview with O'Leary

Sorry I’m late, only found out while changing channels. It will last another half hour or so.

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By: tenthije - 26th September 2004 at 21:50

Quite a nice interview with some infromation and lots of usual complaints to EU regulators. O’L is quite a funny guy if you ask me, making a lot of fun at his own expense (I’m not a workaholic, I’m more of an alcoholic for instance stands out). Some quotes:

When comparing SRB with O’Leary, O’leary said he wouldn’t “fly around the world in a hot-air balloon. I’m quite certain i won’t even fly around dublin in a hot-air balloon”.
Like all irish i’m more alcoholic than workaholic.
most people think i don’t have a feeling for PR, but i do have a feeling for making noise!
passengers will have to pay for IFE (coming in a few months)
average price ryanair ticket is 40euro (+/- 27 pounds)
last year 15% was free (taxes where for passenger)
the ticket prices should be free
how did you find charleroi: “very easy, charleroi found us”
if zaventem said you can fly here for fee, we won’t
we’re not considering expanding at CRL: not at the moment.
we are close to 2 million pax at Charleroi, but won’t get more (because of the EU ruling)
charleroi wants to grow, ryanair wants to grow, pax want us to grow at Charleroi, but we can’t because of EU bureaucrats at Brussels that want to protect Zaventem.
generally we decide to open a new route when there is a efficient airport and good fasclities, we are constantly talking to 50 airports and take 5 as new destination
3 large traditional airlines will remain in Europe: LH, BA and AF. The rest will be gone or taken over
in 5 years ryanair is the largest airline in europe by pax carried. Now number 2 after taking over BA… LH is still 1st.