How Ryanair took off over last 35 years

STATS OF THE DAY Air travel kilometres per capita

RYANAIR’S popularity among pennypinching passengers might now be sky high but the low-cost carrier struggled to take off in its early days.

The airline, which plans to increase its workforce here by 2,000 over the next eight years, has shaken up the industry and changed how people travel since it was established in 1984.

The carrier has revolutionised flying and made it more affordable for regular punters.

A report published by PWC, earlier this week, revealed the company has flown a staggering 230 million people to and from Ireland since 1985 and said they, along with their guests, spend €1.5 billion a year in the Irish economy each year.

Ryanair has come a long way since its humble beginnings when they first began flying passengers between Waterford to London Gatwick on a 15-seater plane to becoming the biggest airline carrier in Europe – they now fly to more than 220 destinations in 36 countries.

The airline, founded by Christopher Ryan, Liam Lonergan, and Tony Ryan was initially called Danren Enterprises.

In 1986, it opened another route between Dublin and London Luton – between both routes carrying 82,000 passengers in a year.

Current boss Michael O’Leary joined in 1988 as Chief Financial Officer and in two years they were forced to restructure as profits fell.

Damages

O’Leary adopted Southwest Airlines in the US’s low-cost model after he visited the company and became CEO in 1994.

The flight-path to success hasn’t always been easy and the company has faced criticisms over the years.