Airlines

Ryanair Launches Largest Ever Summer 2023 Dublin Schedule

Ryanair to purchase 150 LEAP-1B-powered 737-10 aircraft

Ryanair, Ireland’s No. 1 airline, announced its biggest-ever summer schedule to/from Dublin, with 130 routes, incl. 14 new exciting destinations to sun hotspots like Asturias and Castellon in Spain, Kos and Zakynthos in Greece, and exciting city breaks destinations like Stockholm, Genoa and Leipzig. Ryanair’s record Dublin schedule offers the lowest fares and more than twice as many destinations as any other carrier operating to/from Dublin Airport this Summer, delivering over 16m passengers and supporting over 13,000 local jobs.

Ryanair expansion at Cardiff Airport including new route to Belfast(Opens in a new browser tab)

With 14 extra routes compared to last Summer, Ryanair will operate over 2,000 weekly flights to/from Dublin Airport this Summer, connecting 130 destinations across 27 countries, incl. top European destinations across Croatia, Greece, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain among many more. This traffic growth (+10% on S22) will deliver not just inbound tourism but will also offer Irish customers the widest choice and the lowest fares when booking their Summer ‘23 getaways – whether trying city breaks in Berlin (24 weekly flights), Krakow (18 weekly flights) or Lisbon (32 weekly flights), or sun holidays in Dubrovnik (8 weekly flights), Lanzarote (28 weekly flights) or Santorini (4 weekly flights).

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This expanded Summer schedule is underpinned by an increase in the number of B737 Gamechangers based at Dublin rising from 11 up to 16. These more enviro efficient aircraft carry 4% more passengers, burn 16% less fuel and most importantly, generate 40% less noise on Dublin Airport’s new north runway.

Ryanair will carry over 16m passengers to/from Dublin this year, delivering more traffic, more jobs, and more low fares than any other airline. However, if we are to continue to grow and to drive recovery and connectivity to Dublin in the long term, the daa must keep airport charges competitive. Projects, like the €200m tunnel that increases costs unnecessarily, are not wanted by airlines and only damage the economy by driving capacity to more competitive European airports.

To celebrate the launch of Ryanair’s Summer ‘23 schedule for Dublin, we are launching a special promo with seats from just €29.99 for travel between Apr and Oct ’23, which must be booked by midnight 16 Mar on www.Ryanair.com.

Airlines

DOT Proposes New Passenger Compensation Rules for Flight Disruptions

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has unveiled a major initiative to enhance protections for air travelers affected by flight cancellations or significant delays caused by airlines.

Top 10 Best Airlines in the World by AirHelp Survey

This Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeks public feedback on new measures that could require airlines to compensate passengers and provide necessary services automatically.

Key Proposals by the DOT:

Cash Compensation for Airline-Caused Disruptions
- Airlines may be required to pay passengers at least $200 in cash for flight disruptions caused by circumstances under their control, such as mechanical issues or IT failures.
- A tiered compensation system is being considered:
  - $200–$300 for domestic delays of 3–6 hours.
  - $375–$525 for delays lasting 6–9 hours.
  - $750–$775 for delays exceeding 9 hours.
- The DOT is exploring whether smaller airlines should have different compensation thresholds and whether compensation is needed if passengers are notified weeks in advance of a disruption.
Free Rebooking on the Next Available Flight
- Airlines may be obligated to rebook passengers at no extra cost if a flight is canceled or delayed by at least 3 hours domestically or 6 hours internationally.
- Rebooking options may include:
  - Flights operated by the airline or its codeshare partners.
  - Flights on other carriers with which the airline has a commercial agreement if no suitable options are available within 24 hours.
Provision of Meals, Lodging, and Transportation
- Airlines may need to cover meals, overnight accommodations, and transportation for stranded passengers.
- Minimum reimbursements could be established when services aren’t provided upfront, ensuring passengers can recoup costs even without submitting receipts, up to a defined limit.

The DOT’s proposals draw inspiration from consumer protection frameworks in countries like Canada, Brazil, the UK, and the European Union. Research suggests that EU compensation requirements have successfully reduced the frequency and length of delays, demonstrating the effectiveness of such measures.

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Passengers currently face numerous hurdles when seeking compensation or services, including vague policies, lack of upfront communication, and reliance on in-person requests at airports. The new rulemaking aims to close these gaps by establishing clear, enforceable standards for airlines.

Public input on the proposed measures will shape the final rules. The DOT hopes these changes will create a more accountable and passenger-friendly system, ensuring travelers are better supported during disruptions.

With these proposed rules, the DOT seeks to make airline travel more reliable and fair, setting a new standard for passenger rights in the United States.