Ryanair pulls out of Brest route

Ryanair is to end its Stansted to Brest service at the end of this month, the third French destination to be dropped by the carrier this year. According to The Independent newspaper, the carrier has decided to drop the route because it is not attracting enough passengers. A spokesman for Ryanair is quoted as saying: “This is part of our ongoing review of our destinations. Brest underperformed the average Ryanair load factor, which this year is 81 per cent.” The newspaper points out that Ryanair has shut half of its European routes since it took over its rival Buzz, and quotes passengers as saying they are concerned that the carrier will drop more French routes. Many customers of the airline have second homes in France. One, who owns a home in north-west France and will be affected by the termination of the Brest service, said: “Whenever my wife and I have used it, and that has not been at the height of the season, it has had a reasonable load. It is very strange pulling it now, just as it would be about to pick up customers.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad