Little steps for a giant airline
The airline launches in Poland on March 24 and expects to transport 27.5 million passengers around Europe in the following 12 months. However, it is cautious in its Polish operations and no new routes are immediately planned to other Polish destinations. According to Ryanair's sales director for the Central and Eastern European area, Caroline Baldwin, Polish airport charges are more expensive than many of their European counterparts.
"We are in a comfortable position to be choosy," she says, explaining the decision to fly from Wrocław, and not the capital or other larger hubs. According to Baldwin, cooperation with more expensive airports would mean compromising Ryanair's business model, a model that brought the company a E226.6 (zł.931.33) million net profit in 2004.
The second-largest intra-European carrier after Lufthansa lands in Poland some time after its main competitors, but company representatives are making bold predictions on its future in the market. Ryanair boasts punctuality well above traditional carrier standards (at 93 percent) and aims to offer lower average base prices than the competition.
"Other so-called low cost carriers are committed to rising fares," says Baldwin, claiming that Ryanair is going in the opposite direction, even after customers' demand increases. It must be remembered, however, that a large number of passengers look for special offers when choosing their operator. The R1.99 basic (without taxes) fare on the new route to London is cheaper than other fares but more expensive than some special offers. For instance, Wizz Air sells flights from Katowice for free, plus taxes.
"We are in a comfortable position to be choosy," she says, explaining the decision to fly from Wrocław, and not the capital or other larger hubs. According to Baldwin, cooperation with more expensive airports would mean compromising Ryanair's business model, a model that brought the company a E226.6 (zł.931.33) million net profit in 2004.
The second-largest intra-European carrier after Lufthansa lands in Poland some time after its main competitors, but company representatives are making bold predictions on its future in the market. Ryanair boasts punctuality well above traditional carrier standards (at 93 percent) and aims to offer lower average base prices than the competition.
"Other so-called low cost carriers are committed to rising fares," says Baldwin, claiming that Ryanair is going in the opposite direction, even after customers' demand increases. It must be remembered, however, that a large number of passengers look for special offers when choosing their operator. The R1.99 basic (without taxes) fare on the new route to London is cheaper than other fares but more expensive than some special offers. For instance, Wizz Air sells flights from Katowice for free, plus taxes.
