Ryanair seeks French revolution with first domestic flights

Thursday 20 March 2008

Airline & Airport Updates

Ryanair has launched into unknown territory with plans for domestic flights within France and Germany.

The budget airline will become only the second low-cost carrier to try to break the French internal market, following in easyJet's footsteps with a Paris-Marseille service and also embarking on an ambitious Berlin-Frankfurt route in May.

Rival carrier easyJet abandoned its services in 2005 and Ryanair will face stiff competition not only in the form of Air France's stranglehold on French aviation but also from high-speed TGV trains that link Paris and Marseille in as little as three hours.

Releasing 25,000 seats on the route for only €10 (£7.70) tax-inclusive, the airline claims it is not directly competing with TGV, which has the advantage of serving the centre of Paris but offers a standard rail fare of around €105.

Ryanair launched the plans by shifting the attention to air travel competition, with head of communications Peter Sherrard claiming: "200,000 German passengers will save €20 million per annum and 60,000 French passengers will save €6 million per annum compared to Lufthansa and Air France's fares."