Embattled Ryanair unveils 15 new routes

RYANAIR has launched 15 new routes despite the ‘worst summer ever’ and threats to air service in the case of a no-deal Brexit.

Ryanair launched its Ireland Summer 2019 schedule in Dublin yesterday with their chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs warning that no agreement between the UK and EU about the UK’s exit from the European Union would make flights to the UK impossible.

Echoing Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary’s statement last month, Mr Jacobs said that the risk of a no-deal Brexit grounding flights across Europe was being ‘underestimated’.

‘There will be no real progress until the transition agreement is signed and that gives us 20 more months of the status quo.

‘In the meantime there is a risk that in April next year it will not be possible to fly between the UK and Ireland,’ he said.

Ryanair has blamed ‘staff shortages and union disputes’ for 2018’s performance as the worst year on record for flight disruptions and cancellations.

‘We’ve made good progress on union agreements, and we’re targeting to have more done by Christmas,’ said Mr Jacobs.

He also warned that weaker airlines are set to go bust, due to additional costs – such as air fuel now at €73 a barrel, an increase of 50% in just 12 months.

The 15 new routes are predicted to grow the company’s Irish traffic by 3%. Ryanair now offers 150 routes from Ireland.