Leap-frogging price cuts to win business

Ryanair responded last night at an Aer Lingus promotion for low-price fares to London, the USA and other European destinations…

Ryanair responded last night at an Aer Lingus promotion for low-price fares to London, the USA and other European destinations, by cutting its own fares on certain routes.

The Aer Lingus promotion from Dublin to Stansted is £49 while the Ryanair one is £39 return. Ryanair also reduced the Aer Lingus Paris and Brussels return fares by £20 to £69. However, both airlines fly into different airports.

Ryanair also knocked £10 off the Cork-London fare which Aer Lingus was offering for £59 return.

Ryanair's commercial director, Mr Tim Jeans, said Ryanair was not surprised at Aer Lingus's move. "Time and time again they say that their `full service' justifies higher fares, and yet just as often they try to beat Ryanair's prices."

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Aer Lingus is also offering special fares on several routes on which Ryanair does not compete. These include £89 return fares to Zurich, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf and Frankfurt.

The offers being marketed by both airlines are for a limited period and must be booked this month.