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 March 2006
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- ________
RYANAIR ANNOUNCES -
REDUCTION IN ITS SERVICES TO CORK
NEW ROUTE FROM KERRY TO LIVERPOOL
Ryanair, Europe's leading low fares airline, today (Wednesday, 8th March 2006)
announced a reduction in its services to Cork Airport following recent cost
increases there. Cork Airport Authority recently announced a range of cost
increases (38 in total) for various services at the airport including a 300%
increase in the rental charge of check-in and ticket desks. These increases will
push up Ryanair's costs at the airport by over EUR30,000 per annum. The
increases, which are a direct result of the debt, which Cork Airport has
inherited as a result of its new, Taj Mahal-like, terminal now makes Cork
Airport massively uncompetitive against its peer airports throughout Europe and
has made other destinations for Ryanair much more attractive. The Liverpool to
Cork route will reduce from 7 per week to 4 per week.
On the good news front Ryanair also announced that it will be starting a new
three times weekly service from Liverpool to Kerry as a much cheaper alternative
to Cork.
Announcing the reduction in services in Cork today, Ryanair's Deputy Chief
Executive, Michael Cawley, said
"Cork Airport is in danger of pricing itself out of the market with
these outrageous price increases. Cork Airport has to realise that it is in
competition with hundreds of other airports throughout Europe for
passengers whose only concern is to get low fares. The Cork Airport
Authority has spent EUR180M on a terminal for 3 million passengers. Both
Frankfurt Hahn and Dusseldorf Weeze built the same capacity for EUR13M and
EUR15M respectively. If, by forcing the airport to assume the debt burden
arising from this expenditure, the Government insists that Cork Airport is
to charge a premium for its services then it will lose out on the hundreds
of thousands of passengers which Ryanair and other airlines have brought to
the region. For the sake of a cost increase of EUR30,000 the region is
going to lose 20,000 incoming tourists and business visitors, the income
from which runs to approximately EUR8 million. This is an idiotic way to
run an airport and is a direct result of the Government's transport
policies of overspending and making its regional airports uncompetitive by
building lavish and expensive facilities which passengers and visiting
tourists are not prepared to pay for.
"Consequently, Ryanair is reducing its services on the Liverpool route
to reflect the reduction in demand which we expect will ensue from this
cost increase.
"The good news is that we are able to salvage the tourists with the
help of Kerry Airport. We are delighted that we will now be moving these
passengers to Kerry Airport who have offered us an extremely competitive
cost base, much more reflective of what is available in Continental Europe
and we are delighted that, while passengers may not be passing through Cork
Airport, they will still be coming to the region, served through a much
more efficient and low cost airport".
Ends. Wednesday, 8th March 2006
For further information:
Peter Sherrard - Ryanair Pauline McAlester - Murray Consultants
Tel: 00 353 1 812 1228 Tel: 00 353 1 4980 300
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: 08 March 2006
By:___/s/ Howard Millar____
H Millar
Company Secretary & Finance Director