Up to 40 jobs will go with the closure of Ryanair’s telesales operation in Dublin.
The Ryanair Direct unit is to shut in May as part of the no-frills carrier’s cost cutting in the face of record high fuel prices.
The move came within days of the airline’s senior management taking a pay freeze.
CEO Michael O’Leary said: “The decision to close our Dublin Telesales activity is a painful one.
“Sadly, the operation is no longer viable or cost competitive against a backdrop of dwindling demand for phone bookings (now less than 1% of sales) while internet bookings now account for over 99% of ticket sales.
“Our existing Romanian and German call centres will continue to provide telesales services at 60% lower costs than Ryanair Direct.
“These kind of cost savings must be made if Ryanair is to remain Europe’s lowest cost airline in these difficult recessionary markets.â€
He added: “Whilst we will be encouraging these telesales people to apply for other vacancies in Ryanair, should they not apply or be successful, then they will be made redundant at the end of May.
“While record high oil prices and falling fares continue, it is sensible and prudent that we streamline our business and reduce costs in order to remain the only airline in Europe to guarantee the lowest fares and guarantee no fuel surcharges ever.”
by Phil Davies
