Ryanair to give away a million flights over all routes

Low fares airline Ryanair will give away one million free flights across its network over the coming three months. The offer, which relates to all 76 of the company's routes, includes 250,000 free seats on services from the Republic, with the bulk of the remainder available on London routes.

The initiative coincides with Ryanair's adoption of a wide-ranging charter on customer service, which holds it to principles such as punctuality and a commitment to always selling the lowest fares. The company's level of customer service has been the subject of negative publicity on a number of occasions in recent months.

The combination of the charter and free fares, which should see the airline achieve close to maximum capacity over the normally quiet winter months, was broadly welcomed by the investment community. Analysts foresee the flight giveaway having no negative effect on the company's full-year performance, with some expecting the initiative to boost revenue when ancillary customer spending is considered.

In Dublin, the company's shares rose by more than 4 per cent after the announcement, closing up 25 cents at €5.75.

Ryanair commercial director, Mr Michael Cawley, said yesterday that the customer charter was essentially a consolidated statement of existing company policy. He added that the company was asking the media and the public to judge it according to set criteria. "That's much more of a pressure on us than any legal sanction," said Mr Cawley, who claimed that Ryanair was setting itself higher standards than "high-fare airlines".

Among the company's charter commitments are undertakings to enable customers to change flight times (for a fee) and traveller names and to be on time more than any other carrier.

Mr Cawley called on Ryanair's competitors to facilitate the publication of comparative monthly statistics on punctuality, bags lost and passenger complaints "so that passengers can verify for themselves exactly who gives the best customer service".

"The industry standards have now been established, let the other airlines see if they can match them," he said.

Mr Cawley said the availability of free flights in coming months would vary according to route and time, but that some free seats would be allocated to all flights out of the Republic during the offer period.

In some cases, up to 70 per cent of an aircraft's capacity will comprise free seats. Across the network, an average of one-third of seats will be sold at no charge, with the remainder priced "normally". Passengers, who must avail of the offer before September 23rd, will be asked to pay their own taxes on the fare.

Looking forward, Mr Cawley said Ryanair expected to be in a position to base four aircraft in Dublin from next spring, servicing up to 12 routes from a temporary facility at the airport.

He noted however that "time is moving on and nothing is happening" on the construction of the so-called "Pier D" facility at Dublin which is designed to facilitate this kind of service on a permanent basis.

He also criticised Aer Rianta for applying for planning permission in respect of the Pier for an area which could otherwise be used for the development of a new, independent terminal.

A Ryanair spokesman said last night that the company believed Aer Rianta was going against the intentions of the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, in this regard.

Ryanair itself has discussed the development of an independent terminal with more than four parties, including TBI, which operates Belfast International Airport as well as a number of other facilities around the world.