Coronavirus: Ryanair forced to reduce its traffic in September

A Ryanair plane taking off from Manchester Airport, June 21, 2020 Phil Noble / Reuters

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Not spared by the air transport crisis, the Irish low-cost company Ryanair will cut 20% of its flights in September and October. At issue: the upsurge in new cases of coronavirus in Europe and, with it, the return of traffic restrictions which dissuade potential customers. Reservations are fewer than expected in the fall. The company will therefore reduce the frequencies of its flights.

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After record losses between April and June, the Irish low-cost company Ryanair was counting on the gradual return of travelers from September: a failed bet. Spain, France, Sweden, and even Ireland ... Reservations for September are not taking off. They do not even reach the 70% capacity of last year, the level that the company wagered on.

More and more restrictions all over Europe

The coronavirus, which has done so much harm to the airline industry in late winter and spring, is still circulating. And the authorities are once again restricting travel. On Friday August 14, the United Kingdom, a key market for Ryanair, confirmed that travelers from France would be subject to a fortnight. Prior to that, Spain, another major market and Europe's largest carrier, was targeted by a similar measure.

Ryanair, leader in Europe in terms of passenger numbers, called on the Irish government to reduce the list of countries affected by the restrictions, in order to remove Germany in particular. Because, according to the company, the country is less affected by Covid-19 than Ireland. Ryanair must therefore reduce the frequency of its flights. At the same time, the company is continuing to implement its vast restructuring plan which provides for the elimination of 15% of its workforce , or 3,000 jobs.

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  • Ireland
  • Aeronautics
  • Coronavirus

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