COPENHAGEN- Ryanair (FR), the leading airline in Europe, has unveiled its plan to establish a new 2-aircraft base in Copenhagen (CPH) starting from December 2023.
This strategic move will create around 100 direct job opportunities for pilots, cabin crew, and engineers, alongside a substantial investment of $200 million in new aircraft.
Ryanair Copenhagen Base
In its current standing, Ryanair stands as Copenhagen’s third-largest airline, operating a network of 20 routes and serving approximately 2.3 million passengers annually to and from the city.
With its two aircraft, this newly established base positions Ryanair to extend it’s signature competitive low fares to the citizens and visitors of Denmark, offering convenient early morning departures and late evening arrivals in Copenhagen.
By doing so, Ryanair aims to address the demand for affordable air travel while providing an alternative to the considerably higher airfares charged by state-subsidized airlines like SAS and Norwegian.
Notably, Copenhagen is the second Danish base for Ryanair and Billund. The winter schedule for 2023 boasts an impressive lineup of 24 routes to and from Copenhagen, introducing four fresh destinations: Dusseldorf, Faro, Paris, and Warsaw.
Furthermore, it will offer enhanced frequencies to Gdansk and Krakow, all in pursuit of enriching travel options for passengers.
Winter Schedule 2023
Ryanair is set to establish a base with two aircraft in Copenhagen, marking a significant investment of $200 million in the city.
This move will enable the introduction of 24 routes, including four new ones – Dusseldorf, Faro, Paris, and Warsaw.
Furthermore, frequencies to Gdansk and Krakow will be increased, enhancing connectivity. This expansion will also contribute to the creation of up to 100 direct positions for pilots, cabin crew, and engineers in the Copenhagen area.
Anticipated annual passenger traffic is expected to reach nearly 3 million passengers.
Remarkably, Ryanair is the sole major EU airline to grow its traffic post-Covid significantly. Projections for 2023/24 indicate that Ryanair aims to carry 184 million passengers, a remarkable 24% increase compared to its pre-Covid traffic of 149 million.
In Denmark, Ryanair already operates from a two-aircraft base in Billund, serving not only the Billund airport but also three other Danish airports: Aalborg, Aarhus, and Copenhagen.
Low Fares and Travel Options
The launch of the new two-aircraft base in Copenhagen will enable Ryanair to offer competitively low fares and travel options, specifically catering to the demand for early morning departures and late evening arrivals.
The creation of these 100 new jobs complies with Ryanair’s established Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) with the Danske Metal Union in Denmark, ensuring alignment with pay and working conditions, as is already observed at its Billund base.
Ryanair’s operations in Copenhagen also adhere to Danish employment laws, with these highly compensated roles contributing to local tax revenue.
Ryanair’s operational plans envision the utilization of Copenhagen’s low-cost “CPH GO” pier. The airline is urging Copenhagen to reconsider its high airport charges, which are impeding the city’s recovery following the Covid pandemic.
Copenhagen’s capacity for the upcoming S23 period is only at approximately 85% of its pre-Covid levels, and the elevated airport fees hinder this recovery.
Ryanair is encouraging the Danish Regulator to emulate the example set by several other EU airports that have adjusted their airport fees downward to stimulate traffic growth post-Covid.
In celebration of the new two-aircraft base in Copenhagen and the growing base in Billund, Ryanair has introduced a Danish seat sale, offering 50,000 seats starting at just 229 DKK for one-way travel.
This offer is available for booking until August 24th, with travel valid between November 1st and December 10th, 2023.
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