The Italian Aerospace Information Web
by Aeromedia - corso Giambone 46/18 - 10135 Torino (Italy)
Ryanair Boeing 737-800 Italian demo-tour
On 6 May, Ryanair made a promotional flight from London/Stansted to Ancona, Genoa and Turin, the three new Italian destinations of the low-cost Irish airline. On the opportunity, a freshly delivered B.737-800 was used.
Ryanair penetration on the Italian market started during the 1998 summer season with the opening of new routes from London/Stansted to Venice, Pisa and Rimini. From 20 May this year Genoa will be added to the network; Ancona and Turin will follow from 1 July on. The lower launch fare for the new services is less than one fifth in respect of the full fare applied by other airlines.
During the press conference held at the Turin/Caselle airport, Michael O'Leary, Ryanair general manager, confirmed that Turin will be connected to London/Stansted twice a day: the morning flight will be operated by 189 pax B.737-800 and the late evening flight by 130 seat B-737-200.
"I should be disappointed - O'Leary affirmed - if the new Turin service will not reach a targeted 100,000 passengers total at the end of the first year of activity, thus creating an opportunity for a third daily flight".
Ryanair, the major European "low fares" airline, plans to reach a 6 million passenger target during 1999.
In the pictures: Ryanair first Boeing B.737-8AS EI-CSA lands at Turin/Caselle airport on May 6, 1999; Michael O'Leary, Ryanair general manager, and Franco Pennella, president of Sagat Turin Airport.
(Aeromedia, May 1999)