Ryanair considers setting up transatlantic service

Ryanair is considering forming an off-shoot carrier that would provide low-cost transatlantic flights connecting three airports in the UK with New York.

The Irish non-frills carrier believes that the current crisis in the airline industry, fuelled by high oil prices that have caused the failure of numerous airlines, actually strengthens its position in receiving regulatory approval for such a venture and in its bid to acquire Aer Lingus.

If regulatory approval is granted, Ryanair envisions using a number of the long-haul aircraft Aer Lingus has on order, to service the transatlantic routes, according to a report on telegraph.co.uk.

The new off-shoot operation would also negotiate with aircraft leasing companies about acquiring Boeing 787 Dreamliners for the fleet.

Routes that have been identified as part of the new transatlantic low-cost service would include connections between New York and Birmingham, Prestwick and Stansted airports in Britain.

Planning is said to be at a relatively advanced stage, although it would still probably be a few years before aircraft are flying the proposed routes.

It was over a year ago when Ryanair first began talking publicly about operating low-cost flights over the North Atlantic. Since that time, the airline industry has seen the failure of business class carriers Eos, MAXjet and Silverjet – and also budget carrier Zoom.

For more information on the above article, please visit the www.telegraph.co.uk website.

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