SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of May 2003
RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
c/o Ryanair Ltd Corporate Head Office
Dublin Airport
County Dublin Ireland
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No ..X..
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
AER LINGUS CAN'T MATCH RYANAIR'S FARES
AND CAN'T MATCH RYANAIR'S CUSTOMER SERVICE
Ryanair, Europe's No.1 low fares airline today welcomed the limited release by
Aer Lingus (Ireland's high fares airline) of some customer service information
for recent weeks. These figures confirm that Aer Lingus can't match Ryanair's
prices and can't match Ryanair's service either.
1. Aer Lingus's audited average fares are still three times higher than
Ryanair's. The recently released audited accounts of Aer Lingus show that it
carried 6.3 million passengers last year, with total sales of EUR958m
(excluding discontinued operations) for an average fare of over EUR152 per
passenger. Ryanair's last audited accounts confirm that its average fare was
just EUR49, less than one third of Aer Lingus's average fare.
2. Aer Lingus claim that their average fares are lower, but still refused to
provide audited figures for its average fares even excluding the US traffic.
Aer Lingus wants to hide the fact that it was, and still is a high fares
airline.
3. Aer Lingus's own figures prove they can't match Ryanair's customer service
either. Aer Lingus were forced Tuesday to publish customer service
statistics for punctuality, lost luggage and passenger complaints. It's
interesting that Aer Lingus produced the lost baggage and punctuality
statistics for the past four months, but would only produce the punctuality
statistics for the last 5 weeks. Obviously Aer Lingus are still trying to
hide the truth of their abject punctuality from the travelling public.
Aer Lingus's own statistics now confirm that Ryanair beats them every time for
prices, punctuality, lost bags and customer complaints.
Willie Walsh, the Chief Executive of Aer Lingus claims that Aer Lingus is now
much more competitive. More competitive than what? Aer Lingus's fares are still
three times higher than Ryanair's and it can't match Ryanair's customer service.
Very little has changed at Aer Lingus, it's still ripping off the Irish public
as Willie Walsh himself confirmed at the recent PD conference in Galway.
Welcoming this belated publication of Aer Lingus's customer service statistics
today, Ryanair's Chief Executive, Michael O'Leary said;
"These figures prove yet again that Aer Lingus can't match Ryanair's fares,
can't match Ryanair's punctuality and can't match Ryanair's service. It's a
pity that Aer Lingus won't take up the Ryanair challenge to publish their
audited average fares which Willie Walsh claims are lower than stated in
their accounts, but we will keep on trying to embarrass him into publishing
the truth.
In the meantime the Irish public can continue to obtain the lowest fares,
the most on-time flights and the best customer service by flying Ryanair."
Comparison of Aer Lingus and Ryanair's published punctuality statistics and
average fares.
Audited Average Fare Ryanair Aer Lingus
(Latest Audited Accounts)
EUR49 EUR152
Current Lowest Fares Ryanair Aer Lingus
(one way) (each way)
Manchester EUR15 EUR39.99
Birmingham EUR25 EUR29.99
Glasgow EUR25 EUR34.99
Edinburgh EUR25 EUR34.99
London EUR35 EUR39.99
Brussels EUR35 EUR58.32
Paris EUR35 EUR69.99
On-Time Flights Ryanair Aer Lingus
Edinburgh 90% 57%
Birmingham 88% 55%
Manchester 88% 78%
London 82% 66%
* CAA
Punctuality
Statistics for
January and
February 2003
Ends 30th May 2003
For further information
please contact:
John Rowley
Ryanair
Tel. +353-1-8121212
Pauline McAlester
Murray Consultants
Tel. +353-1-4980300
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
Date: 30 May 2003
By:___/s/ Howard Millar____
H Millar
Company Secretary & Finance Director