Ryanair headed for Copenhagen
When Copenhagen Airport's new low-cost terminal SWIFT stands ready at the end of October anticipated low cost airlines to increase activities at the airport. There are indications that Europe's biggest airline is on the way to Copenhagen. The company has sought takeoff and landing permits for 23 routes.
There have long circulated rumors about whether Ryanair would set up in Copenhagen Airport, where SWIFT low cost terminal is completed in the autumn.
Several budget airlines have already put tickets in to SWIFT, but some might suggest that Ryanair is now ready to Copenhagen. The company has just applied Copenhagen Airport on takeoff and landing permits (slots) for a total of 23 destinations. The application is initially filed for the period from 31 October 2010 to 26 March 2011.
Ryanair flies in advance of the airports in Billund and Aarhus, but has not previously flown to Copenhagen Airport, since it could not have met the economic conditions to establish routes to the airport. In addition, Ryanair also now had a strategy of using secondary airports that are no cheaper than the main airports. This strategy has however been challenged recently when Ryanair announced a new base at Barcelona El Prat Airport.
Ryanair's communication and press department would not comment on the application for starting and landing permits at Copenhagen Airport and whereas it is company policy not to deal with rumors in the market.
At Copenhagen Airport, says press chief Soren Hedegaard Nielsen: "Ryanair is one of many birds on the roof over SWIFT. We are in constant dialogue with Ryanair and other budget airlines around SWIFT, but can not comment on it further."
Søren Hedegaard Nielsen says that it is not the first time that Ryanair has applied for takeoff and landing permits in Copenhagen Airport. It has happened a few times before but it was to return before the SWIFT terminal was a reality with reduced charges dismissed.
Ryanair has applied for slots for flights, involving 23 destinations in total 11 countries. Below follows Ryanair's wishlist:
Belgium: Charleroi
Finland: Lappeenranta, Tampere
France: Montpellier
Netherlands: Eindhoven
Italy: Brindisi, Pisa, Rome-Ciampino
Morocco: Sais
Norway: Haugesund
Spain: Alicante, Jerez de la Frontera, Madrid, Malaga, Reus, Santander
Britain and Ireland: Dublin, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Prestwick, Shannon
Germany: Dresden and Leipzig
Although Ryanair has applied for slots at Copenhagen Airport will not necessarily low-cost airline to use them. There is currently a kind of "poker" where existing and potential new budget airlines offering themselves to the new SWIFT terminal. The puzzle will go up in a few months after Ryanair by mid-August to notify Copenhagen Airport, whether they applied for slots to be released or exploited.
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