Irish budget carrier Ryanair has confirmed the first stage of its operational plans for the new Warsaw Modlin Airport, which is due to open for commercial passenger flights in July 2012. The airline has announced eight initial routes from the Greenfield facility but is expected to expand its network further as its battle with Wizz Air in Eastern Europe intensifies.
As the two low-cost carriers attempt to battle over the traffic in the Hungarian capital Budapest following the collapse of Malev Hungarian Airlines it appears a similar fight will also be taking place in the Polish market with the Irish carrier’s initial network placing it in direct competition with Wizz Air.
Ryanair confirms it will offer flights from Warsaw Modlin to Bergamo, Brussels Charleroi, Budapest, Dublin, London Stansted, Oslo Rygge, Rome Ciampino and Stockholm Skavsta. This network will place the airline in direct competition with Wizz Air on three routes – Bergamo, Brussels, Budapest and Stockholm – while the two airlines will also serve four other competing markets, albeit serving different airports – Stansted and Luton in London; Rygge and Torp in Oslo and Ciampino and Fiumicino in Rome. Dublin will be the only destination offered by Ryanair that does not have any direct competition from Wizz Air.
“Ryanair is pleased to announce our first eight Warsaw routes to Brussels, Budapest, Dublin, London, Milan, Oslo, Rome and Stockholm when Warsaw Modlin airport opens on July 16 next. Ryanair’s eight new Warsaw Modlin routes will deliver at least 700,000 passengers per annum and sustain 700 local jobs,” said Michael O’Leary, Chief Executive Officer, Ryanair at a press conference in the Polish capital last week.
This will be an interesting battle in a new environment, although Wizz Air does already have experience in the Warsaw market, currently serving the city’s main gateway Chopin Airport. And while Wizz Air will have aircraft positioned at Modlin, Ryanair will serve the airport from its other bases, spreading the traffic flows through the day.
The arrival of Ryanair at Warsaw Modlin marks another success for our sister company, Airport Strategy & Marketing (ASM), which has been supporting the new facility with its business, marketing and air service development strategy. According to ASM, the commitments made by Ryanair and Wizz Air will deliver a combined two million passengers per year for Warsaw Modlin Airport. These agreements mark the largest ever route success for ASM on behalf of one of its airport clients and indeed for any consultancy in the area of air service development.
“Ryanair and Wizz Air are two key players in European aviation, and for the two of them to give such a strong commitment to Warsaw Modlin Airport underlines the potential for the Polish capital’s new gateway” said Tony Griffin, Senior Vice President ASM. “ASM is delighted to have played its part in making these agreements happen. It really shows our team at its most effective, helping negotiate and deliver new routes on behalf of our airport clients”.
Related Content
