Aerospace

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Ryanair

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Ryanair: Ryanair is one of Europe’s largest and successful low-cost carrier airline groups. Ryanair is the parent company of Ryanair UK, Buzz, Malta Air & Lauda as sister airlines.

1. Ryanair started with a share capital of just £1
Ryanair established in the year 1984 by the Ryan family as “Danren Enterprises” with a share capital of just £1 and a staff of 25. It was shortly thereafter renamed “Ryanair” (after Tony Ryan). It started operations in 1985 flying a 15-seat Embraer Bandeirante turboprop aircraft between Waterford and Gatwick Airport.

2. Ryanair starts the first fare war in Europe.
In 1986 Ryanair obtains permission from regulatory authorities to lower the fare price between the Dublin-London route. The launch fare price was £99, which was half the price set by British Airways and Aer Lingus’, later both BA and Aer Lingus slashed their high prices in response to Ryanair’s.
Over the next few years, Ryanair started new routes to other places of Europe such as Stockholm, Brussels, and Paris with 80% low airfares compared to other airlines.

3. No frill, No business class, and single model aircraft.
Ryanair started with the “No frill, No business class, and single model aircraft” principle. New Ryanair aircraft have been delivered with non-reclining seats, no seat-back pockets, safety cards stuck on the back of the seats, and life jackets stowed overhead rather than under the seat. This allows airlines to save on aircraft costs and enables faster cleaning and security checks during the short turnaround times. Ryanair is committed to providing low airfares, this means you have little legroom, have to pay for extra luggage, food, or seat reservations.

4. Ryanair operates the largest no, of Boeing 737 fleet in the world
Ryanair group carried 149m annual customers on more than 2,500 flights per day from 79 bases across Europe and North Africa, the Group connects over 242 airports, operates over 1,800 routes in 40 countries on a fleet of 430 Boeing 737-800 and 29 Airbus A320 aircraft, 270 of them belongs to Ryanair alone, with a further 210 Boeing 737 on order. Which will enable the Group to lower fares and grow traffic to 200m p.a. over the next 4 or 5 years.

5. Europe’s Eco-friendly Airline
Ryanair has a team of over 16,000 highly skilled aviation professionals delivering Europe’s No.1 on-time performance. The average age of the Ryanair fleet is approximately 8 years and is set to get younger with the latest aircraft order. Ryanair is Europe’s greenest cleanest airline group.

6. It is the world’s fourth-largest airline
As indicated by figures from worldwide carrier affiliation IATA, Ryanair conveyed 136.7 million travelers in 2019, behind just Southwest, Delta & American Airlines. It climbed a spot from its fifth spot in 2016, jumping China Southern, which lost its place in the top five to United.

7. A Ryanair aircraft takes off every 45 seconds
Over a normal day, the carrier’s fleet travels somewhere in the range of 382,605 km, as per the airline, visiting 40 nations on 350 aircraft. Research a year ago discovered that a Ryanair airplane flew 46 flights in seven days, to 19 goals, timing up 45,586 km.

8. Ryanair launched its own website to cut down travel agents’ fees.
Two 17-year-old understudies’ students were appointed by Ryanair in 2000 to develop the airway’s first site. The airways were obviously cited £3.5million for the design and developments of its online nearness, so they rather moved toward two young people, John Beckett and Tom Lenihan, who carried out the responsibility for around £20,000 to develop Ryanair first site.

9. Ryanair has never had an accident
In 35 years of flying, the closest the carrier has come to a serious accident was On 10 November 2008, Ryanair Flight 4102, from Frankfurt–Hahn Airport, suffered undercarriage damage in an emergency landing at Rome–Ciampino Airport, after experiencing bird strikes, which damaged both engines on approach. Two crew members and eight passengers were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

10. Free Publicity
Ryanair is also known for their provocative advertising, such as deliberately courting controversy to generate free publicity for the airline, have led to a number of complaints to the Advertising Standard Authority (ASA) and occasionally court action being taken against the airlines. Ryanair often uses advertising to make direct comparisons and attack its competitors. One of its advertisements used a picture of the Manneken Pis, a famous Belgian statue of a urinating child, with the words: “Pissed off with Sabena’s high fares? Low fares have arrived in Belgium.” Sabena sued and the court ruled that the advertisements were misleading and offensive. Court-ordered Ryanair to discontinue the advertisements immediately or face fines. Another provocative ad campaign headlined “Expensive BAstards!” compared Ryanair with British Airways price comparisons, but this time court sided with Ryanair.

A Ryanair Boeing 737-800 displaying “bye bye Latehansa” livery referring to German competitor Lufthansa in 2008.

In addition, Ryanair has been calling for better customer service since last year, as they regularly performed poorly in customer satisfaction surveys. For many, this may be just one more reason to book Ryanair.

Related Topics:EUROPE low cost airlines ryan air

Rob Ryan

Aerospace

India is set to build a central command for the Air Traffic Control system, called ISHAN

Coutresy : Boeing planes

India’s air traffic growth has led to increased responsibilities for air traffic control. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is considering centralizing air traffic control for aircraft, dividing the country into four regions. The goal is to consolidate India’s segmented airspace into a single entity to improve air traffic management (ATM) efficiency, safety, and smoothness.

Recently, the AAI invited expressions of interest to develop a detailed project report for the Indian Single Sky Harmonized Air Traffic Management (ISHAN) initiative in Nagpur. Under this plan, air traffic controllers in Nagpur would handle domestic flights flying above 25,000 feet, eliminating the need for coordination among controllers in different regions.

For domestic regional flights operating above 25,000 feet, control would shift to the central command in Nagpur. This consolidation aims to enhance airline operations, increase flight handling capacity, and reduce congestion and flight times for passengers.

Currently, the AAI provides ATM services over Indian airspace and adjoining oceanic areas, covering over 2.8 million square nautical miles. This airspace is divided into four flight information regions (FIRs) in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai, along with a sub-FIR in Guwahati.

FIRs are responsible for providing air traffic services, including weather information, visibility, and search and rescue assistance. The proposed unification under the ISHAN initiative aligns with the projected growth of the aviation industry, which anticipates a doubling of domestic passenger traffic by 2030.

Aerospace

Does AirAsia show interest in Comac aircraft in the future?

Courtesy : Tony Fernandes (Linked in Story)

Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A, operating as AirAsia Group, recently paid a visit to the facilities of COMAC on April 2, 2024, and was thoroughly impressed by what he witnessed.

C919 already securing nearly 1000 orders

COMAC, known for its homegrown aircraft, has launched two promising jets: the ARJ21 and the C919 aircraft. Both aircraft are gaining popularity in the Chinese market, with the C919 already securing nearly 1000 orders from various airlines.

Fernandes expressed his admiration for COMAC’s achievements in aircraft manufacturing, acknowledging the immense challenge it entails. His visit underscored the realization that AirAsia now has a viable third option when it comes to selecting aircraft for its fleet.

During his tour, Fernandes was delighted by the innovation and technology evident in COMAC’s aircraft production and the company’s commitment to long-term partnerships.

He noted that many Western companies have shifted away from prioritizing loyalty and customer service, opting instead for short-term gains and a narrow definition of success.

Last month, COMAC embarked on an international tour, showcasing demonstration flights to neighboring countries, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia. Fernandes believes that the positive impression left by COMAC during his visit opens up new opportunities for collaboration.

Fernandes emphasized COMAC’s remarkable achievements

The shared values of loyalty, customer service, and long-term vision align closely with AirAsia’s ethos, making collaboration with COMAC appealing. With a focus on innovation and excellence, both companies stand to benefit from a partnership grounded in trust and a shared commitment to success.

Indonesia and China have already collaborated in validating and maintaining the airworthiness of the ARJ21 aircraft, indicating a solid foundation for future partnerships.

In his statement, Fernandes emphasized COMAC’s remarkable achievements and genuine desire for long-term partnership, highlighting the absence of ego and a genuine willingness to succeed together. He marveled at COMAC’s fully automated, AI-driven factory, a testament to their dedication to innovation and efficiency.

Fernandes criticized Western firms for prioritizing short-term gains over loyalty, customer service, and long-term strategy, emphasizing the importance of understanding customers’ needs and collaborating to achieve success.

Aerospace

Indigo will soon launch Air Taxi Service in India

Image:Archer Aviation

InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent brand of IndiGo, is set to revolutionize travel in India with its upcoming air taxi service.

Scheduled for a potential launch in 2026, this innovative venture promises a seamless journey for passengers between two bustling hubs. Delhi and Gurgaon in Haryana. The forthcoming service is projected to revolutionize the daily commute, offering passengers a swift aerial journey covering the distance in a mere 7 minutes.

This remarkable efficiency contrasts starkly with the conventional 90-minute drive, underscoring the immense time-saving potential for commuters. The anticipated fare, ranging from Rs 2,000-3,000, makes this innovative mode of transport not only swift but also remarkably competitive in pricing.

At the heart of this ambitious endeavor lies a strategic partnership with Archer Aviation, a pioneer in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft technology. Under this collaboration, Archer will supply 200 state-of-the-art eVTOL aircraft, representing an investment of US$ 1 billion. These cutting-edge aircraft, capable of accommodating up to four passengers alongside the pilot, epitomize the future of sustainable air travel.

Powered by six battery packs, Archer’s eVTOL aircraft boast rapid charging capabilities, enabling a swift turnaround between flights. With a charging time of just 30-40 minutes, these eco-friendly aircraft ensure minimal downtime, maximizing operational efficiency.

Similar services are anticipated to be introduced by the joint venture in Bengaluru and Mumbai as well. Nevertheless, the service rollout period has not yet been made public by the company. Next year, it is anticipated to get its certification. Following this, the company will start the certification procedure with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).