United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Ryanair cuts Stansted flights
Ryanair is reducing its London Stansted services by 20% this winter, blaming higher airport charges.
It is cutting the number of aircraft operated from 40 to 33, which means reducing frequency or cancelling services altogether.
“BAA Stansted doubling of airport charges since April 07 have caused traffic declines at Stansted for the first time in 15 years. The current service provided by the BAA at Stansted is nothing short of appalling,” it said in a statement today.
“Many of the 17 security machines are regularly unmanned during peak morning periods, and understaffing at passport control continues to cause long queues and frequent passenger delays.
“We continue to press for the break up of the BAA airport monopoly which provides abject facilities, a third rate service and charges extortionate prices, particularly at Stansted.
“This winter we will sit seven of our 40 Stansted based aircraft on the ground because Stansted’s higher airport charges make it more profitable to ground these aircraft during the winter rather than fly them.”
Ryanair announced the Stansted decision as it revealed a 20% rise in profit for the three months to the end of June.
The airline made a pre-tax profit of €139m in the quarter, up from €116m the previous year.
It said although ticket prices were flat, it had enjoyed an 18% rise in passenger numbers.
It has revised its forecast for full-year profit growth from 5% to 10%, saying this would be helped by its decision to cut capacity on non-profitable winter routes.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Walt Leger on New Orleans’ Resilience and Major Events Ahead
Cindy Mackin Shares Estes Park’s Winter Thrills
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel
Report: Cruise guest died after ship lashed in heavy storm
British teen in serious condition after paraglider collision