Ryanair - Galway Airport

[boardsie08]

Just wondering what with Aer Arann cutting their routes and letting go staff, they seem to be on shaky ground.

If Aer Arann were to go bust completely, what would be the likely hood of Ryanair coming into Galway Airport?

I know that Galway Airport is very small, small runways etc.. but I've always wondered why Ryanair never set up shop there?

They're in nearly all other regional airports around Ireland, and Galway is a big enough city, I'm sure they could definitely put on some profitable routes there?

Why exactly has Ryanair shied away from Galway?

Surely there would be demand for routes to Dublin and Belfast, the major airports in the UK, perhaps even some to the likes of Alicante, Murcia, Beauvais etc..

[shanemul]

Galway have no hope in getting Ryanair to setup as their runway is far too short a bae 146 is not even able to take off at full capicity from there

[*Kol*]

The runway is not long enough for the B737-800 as far as I can emember off the top of my head. Maybe somebody has the figures?

[tracker-man]

Well firstly, every airline today is experiencing trouble and are all on shaky ground but yes you're right, what ever would happen to Galway if Aer Arann were to go bust.

Actually ryanair used to fly in and out of galway in the past (Routes began in 1987) but they ceased in 1991 due to the Gulf war breaking out causing passenger traffic to collapse. Ryanair responded by getting rid of the turbo props by returning 3 x ATR 42s to their owners, a decision which resulted in the withdrawal from regional routes to Kerry, Galway and Waterford airport.



Personally I would love to see Ryanair introduce routes in Galway. Hasn't O'Leary recently said something about Galway airport not standing a chance or something something?? Can't rightly remember, i'm sure someone will know here.

[boardsie08]

Looks like that may be the case indeed.

From: http://www.flightmapping.com/Ireland/Galway/

"The range of cheap flights to and from Galway has expanded dramatically in the second wave of low-cost airline expansion. This gateway to western Ireland does not have the facilities to attract the larger aircraft used by budget airlines like Ryanair and Easyjet"

Jesus, that's some shortsightedness on behalf of those at the helms of Galway Airport then!

You'd think that they'd have put measures in place years ago to expand the airport and it's runways years ago with the advent of no-frills airlines.

The amount of revenue that they're losing out on to the likes of Shannon and Knock etc..

[Stee]

Galway = 4,003ft runway

Doesnt a 737 need 9,000-12,000 depending on the variant?

EDIT: nope, figures completely wrong there... I see 16/34 at EIDW is only 6,700 so im a bit confused now

EDIT 2: Did a quick google search and according to this bloke the 737 needs 4,700ft

[boardsie08]

Personally I would love to see Ryanair introduce routes in Galway. Hasn't O'Leary recently said something about Galway airport not standing a chance or something something?? Can't rightly remember, i'm sure someone will know here.

Yes, I seem to recall something to that effect also, trying to find that article atm.

It just seems like madness to me that a city the size of Galway has never done anything to improve the airport.

The amount of revenue that would be generated through increased jobs, boosted tourism etc.. if Galway had a decent airport which Ryanair could have a base in.

I wonder if Ryanair has ever thought about buying out Aer Arann and running their routes with their current fleet?

At present Aer Arann are far from a no-frills carrier, I'm sure Ryanair could turn around Aer Arann and squeeze out maximum profits on it's existing routes and perhaps add a few new ones to boot.

[tracker-man]

Aren't the airport staff on strike at the moment also, due to cuts in hours? Who are the shareholders of the airport?

[darragh-k]

I personally wouldn't like to see ryanair come in, but if aer arann did go bust, then that would be a completely different story, ryanair would be a good thing then but at the moment, aer arann are a bigger asset to Galway than ryanair would be if they came in, and if they came in, they would force aer arann out.

Personally I don't think the runway will be extended in my lifetime, and believe me I have a good few years left! Its not that it can't be extended, its that it won't. Shannon and knock are too close now. There has been loads of talk about extending but no action, and to be honest, from talking to the various people in operations at the airport they say it won't be extended for the same reason as stated above.

I really would love to see it extended and bring in more airlines but I think that aer arann should still remain the main airline operating out of Galway.

Originally Posted by tracker-man

Aren't the airport staff on strike at the moment also, due to cuts in hours? Who are the shareholders of the airport?

Yes they are, due to their 39 hour week being cut to 20. I think it's happening Thursday, but I'm open to correction on that.

[boardsie08]

Originally Posted by darragh-k

I personally wouldn't like to see ryanair come in.

At the moment, aer arann are a bigger asset to Galway than ryanair would be if they came in.

I think that aer arann should still remain the main airline operating out of Galway.

Hi Darragh,

Just curious as to why you wouldn't like to see Ryanair coming to Galway and why Aer Arann are a bigger asset to Galway than Ryanair?

From a lay persons point of view, I think that all *most* people want are cheap fares and a good network of routes to popular destinations.

If Aer Arann bite the dust, sure there'll be job losses, but couldn't the same people who lost their jobs with Aer Arann in theory reapply with Ryanair?

Ok, so the wages may not be as good, but at least they'd have steady employment, and I think that Ryanair are probably one of the more secure airlines atm given that they cut costs down to the bone, one thing they'll never be accused of is squandering money willy nilly (Don't Aer Lingus cabin crew uniforms cost multiples of what Ryanairs do? C'mon lads, it's a uniform no need to spend big bucks on "designer" uniforms!)

And with regards to Galway itself, well if Ryanair came in, wouldn't that mean increased jobs, increased flights, increased tourists, all of which would bring more money into Galway?

Or am I missing something and taking an overly simplistic view of all this?

Btw, not arguing your points, just curious as to your reasoning

[Neon-Circles]

The runway would need to be lengthened by a few hundred metres.

Look at the likes of Lubeck (EDHL) airport in Germany. The runway is 1800x60m long and Ryanair operate regular flights from there. So its possible

[tracker-man]

Originally Posted by darragh-k

I personally wouldn't like to see ryanair come in.

I really would love to see it extended and bring in more airlines...

??

Ryanair would offer much more to the consumer than aer arann ever could, better fares, more routes, etc. There is much more stability in Ryanairs finances than in Aer arann's, IMO. Ryanair would bring in more tourists and business men to the city, the local economy would benefit, airport figures would be up and so on.

I think if Ryanair were to come in to galway, things would get serious there, at the moment IMO, it is just an excuse for an airport. What I mean is, How many flights yearly does aer arann have in galway? Now imagine what ryanair could do with them figures if only they could operate there.

[tracker-man]

With regard to the strike

Strike notice was served last week and will come into effect any time after midnight on October 29th unless there is a resolution to the issues.

[Biro]

Originally Posted by boardsie08

Yes, I seem to recall something to that effect also, trying to find that article atm.

It just seems like madness to me that a city the size of Galway has never done anything to improve the airport.

The amount of revenue that would be generated through increased jobs, boosted tourism etc.. if Galway had a decent airport which Ryanair could have a base in.

I wonder if Ryanair has ever thought about buying out Aer Arann and running their routes with their current fleet?

At present Aer Arann are far from a no-frills carrier, I'm sure Ryanair could turn around Aer Arann and squeeze out maximum profits on it's existing routes and perhaps add a few new ones to boot.

From the figures posted above, Ryanair don't have an option of coming into Galway, as the runway isn't sufficient for the 738's.
On your point above, Ryanair won't run any other aircraft only 737's, and more specifically 738's. They had a few 735's when they bought that other budget airline for a while, but they're nearly or completely gone now. And in any case the existing pilots would be already type-rated for that aircraft.
Introducing a new range of aircraft is a step back for Ryanair, as it introduces more cost. So in short, no, they have no interest in Aer Arann.
Also Aer Arann have more flights into Galway than Ryanair have into Knock!!

[benbulbin]

Originally Posted by Biro

Also Aer Arann have more flights into Galway than Ryanair have into Knock!!

Not at the moment, Aer Arann have cut back on many of the more marginal destinations and looking at current timetable only 5 destinations are bookable direct from Galway (DUB, WAT, LTN, MAN, EDI). AMS has been kept on via WAT.

Ryanair serve 5 destinations from Knock (LTN, STN, EMA, BRS, LPL) with much higher capacity, and BMI serve GLA, MAN & BHX. Depends if you value frequency over capacity.