Ryanair could aid in Modlin takeoff

Irish low-cost carrier, Ryanair, says it cannot exclude some form of financial engagement in the construction of a low-fare airlines airport in Modlin.

"There has already been a precedent. We invested in Frankfurt-Hahn by loaning the operator money for the expansion of the airport. The loan will be paid back by lowering airport taxes. So we take the risk on our shoulders - if we don't attract customers the loan will not be paid back," explained Tomasz Kułakowski, Ryanair's sales and marketing executive for Central Europe. "Warsaw is an interesting enough market for us not to exclude such a possibility," he added.

Last year, Ryanair loaned authorities at Frankfurt-Hahn about EUR 12.5 (zł.47.8) million to go towards a new passenger terminal and Ryanair maintenance facility at the airport.

Despite its long-running complaints about the prices charged by Warsaw's Chopin airport, Ryanair has finally decided to start flying from the Polish capital. In February 2007, the first planes will set off from Chopin to Dublin. On the first days of ticket sales, the airline's website was overloaded with customers visiting the site.

In H1 2006 Ryanair posted a net profit of EUR 329 million (zł.1.2 billion) on revenues of EUR 1.25 (zł.4.8) billion, which is an increase of 39 percent and 33 percent respectively in comparison with the same period in 2005. The company forecasts its net profit at the end of this year will reach EUR 350 million (zł.1.3 billion).