Ryanair Opens Price War

Ryanair has opened a price war on its cheap flight rivals by launching its biggest seat sale to date. The airline, which from now on is quoting fares with taxes included, is offering 10 million seats across Europe at a discount price. Around 3.5 million seats will be offered at £10, with another 3.5 million at £15 and the rest for £20.

It is believed that the sale will enable Ryanair to reach its target of 52 million customers this year compared to 42 million in 2006. Ryanair have also announced that any passengers finding a cheaper fare on the same route with another airline will receive compensation of double the difference between the two fares, even though the move is expected to cost the airline around £1 million. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary believes that although the campaign will force added pressure to offer the lowest prices and be detrimental to profits, it would be beneficial to consumers whilst also damaging their competitors.

The move comes after Easyjet vowed to lower its fares to fill seats due to depleting passenger numbers. EasyJet had revealed a reduced loss over winter, down 58% from £40 million to £17 million, on revenues up by 14% to £719 million. The loss is blamed on increasingly high taxes, rising interest rates and environmental issues. Ryanair, set up in 1985, was Europe's original low fares airline and is still Europe's largest low fares carrier. In the current year Ryanair will carry over 42m passengers on 473 low fare routes across 25 European countries.

Ryanair flights are available through directline-holidays.co.uk. One flights search checks many suppliers to find the cheapest flights including: British Airways, EasyJet, Thomsonfly, Monarch, Flybe, Ryanair, XL Flights, Fly Thomas Cook, BMIbaby, Aer Lingus and many more...