Apr 13, 2007 11:27 am US/Eastern
Ryanair Considers Ireland To US Flights For $12
LONDON (AP) ―
Budget carrier Ryanair is considering launching a separate airline that would fly long-haul between Europe and the United States around the turn of the decade.
Ryanair on Thursday confirmed comments made in an interview by Chief Executive Michael O'Leary that he has already had speculative approaches from U.S. airports about setting up a service.
More competition is expected on trans-Atlantic routes after the European Union approved an aviation deal with the United States last month to open up the restricted routes to new rivals.
The "Open Skies" deal, which takes effect from the end of March 2008, will allow airlines to fly from anywhere in the EU to any point in the U.S., shedding limitations that also discourage them from charging what they like or combining with other carriers.
O'Leary told trade magazine Flight International that the new airline could fly to five or six U.S. cities from European bases and offer one-way fares as low as $12. It would serve secondary U.S. airports such as Baltimore and Providence in Rhode Island and would also have "premium class" seating.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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