O'Leary lashes out at Aer Lingus's new Belfast base
More photos:
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary yesterday hit out at the Aer Lingus decision to establish a base at Belfast's Aldergrove airport, as the low-cost carrier said that it had boosted overall traffic at Belfast City airport by 28pc in the first half of the year.
Mr O'Leary described the Aer Lingus performance at Aldergrove as a "dismal failure", saying its low load factor on some routes from the airport was "truly awful".
Ryanair also said it had called on the UK's Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to investigate a decision by BP to boost its delivery charges for aviation fuel at Belfast City airport and Scotland's Prestwick by 50pc. Ryanair has accused BP of profiteering and described the increases as unjustified.
"Because they have a monopoly, they are determined to abuse it. We can't get a rational explanation from Air BP so we have asked the OFT to write to them and ask."
Separately, Ryanair also said yesterday that it has exercised options to buy 10 Boeing 737-800 aircraft for delivery in October and November 2010, under the terms of its 2005 agreement with the aircraft manufacturer.
In 2005, Ryanair ordered 70 aircraft from Boeing with an option to buy a further 70.
- John Mulligan
