The Anonymous Widower

Ryanair Cuts Flights at Stansted

Ryanair has announced that it is cutting flights at London Stansted this winter.

Michael O’Leary blames the British Government’s Air Passenger Duty and high charges at the airport. He’s probably right to a certain degree, but in the statements of his, I’ve heard, he doesn’t blame the recession.

I do!

I also think that people are thinking much more about their holidays and travel plans. I travel to Holland quite a bit and although, I can fly, I prefer to drive using Norfolk Line from Dover to Dunkirk.  It takes a few hours longer, but then I live alone and enjoy a restful drive through the countryside.  And if I pick my times right, I can even get across the Dartford Crossing with ease.

You have also to look at the economics.

A typical low-cost flight on Ryanair or EasyJet costs about £70 return, which is about the same as the cost of the ferry.  So with the ferry I have to drive perhaps another 600 miles, which costs me about another £70 for diesel.  But then it costs me at least £30-40 to park at the airport and then there is the train trip at the other end. 

So although the low-cost flight is nominally cheaper, it’s unlikely there is more than about £30 in it.  And of course the whole thing is blown apart if I need to hire a car at the other end.

It does take longer, but then I’m in comfort and I haven’t had to get to the airport and wait for a flight at some time that is inconvenient to everyone.

But where it gets interesting is that in my last trip to Holland, the car was quite full, in that I had a couple of boxes and my Brompton bicycle.

Try taking that on Ryanair with their 10Kg limit!

July 21, 2009 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Brompton Bicycle, Cycling, EasyJet, Ryanair