Europe’s biggest low cost carrier Ryanair has been forced to make an awkward U-turn and has backed away from recently announced plans to start transatlantic flights.
The carrier released a statement to the stock exchange saying the Ryanair board had in fact not approved any such plans, nor would it in the near future.
“In the light of recent press coverage, the board of Ryanair Holdings wishes to clarify that it has not considered or approved any transatlantic project and does not intend to do so,” the airline said.
This contrasts with news earlier this week when the carrier said it had approved a plan to start services to the US once it had time to source and take delivery of long haul aircraft.
“The board of Ryanair have approved the business plans for future growth, including transatlantic. We are talking to manufacturers about long-haul aircraft,” a Ryanair statement said Monday.
“European consumers want lower cost travel to the US and the same for Americans coming to Europe. We see it as a logical development in the European market.”
The sudden backtracking however is not likely the end of the story.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary described the first statement as “a miscommunication” but the Irish Independent newspaper reports Ryanair may still plan to pursue transatlantic services through a separate entity in which it would probably take a majority stake.
