Malev announcy bankruptcy and Ryanair moves into Ferihegy.

[/quote] RYANAIR TO OPEN BUDAPEST BASE IN TWO WEEKS WITH 31 NEW ROUTES, 2M PAX P.A., SAVING UP TO 2,000 JOBS FOLLOWING MALEV’S CLOSURE RYANAIR FARES START FROM €9.99/HUF2,000 FROM 17 FEBRUARY


RYANAIR MEETING WITH HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT AND
BUDAPEST AIRPORT TODAY TO FINALISE RESCUE PLAN

Ryanair, the world’s favourite airline today (3rd Feb) at a press conference in Budapest announced its intention to launch a rescue plan for Budapest and Hungarian tourism following the grounding of Malev airline last evening. Ryanair confirmed that it will base 4 brand new Boeing 737-800 series aircraft at Budapest Airport commencing in just two weeks time on Friday 17th February where it will open 31 new routes, offering lower fares (€9.99/HUF2,999) than any other airline, and delivering up to 2m passengers p.a., replacing most of the traffic and routes lost by Budapest following last night’s grounding of Malev.

Ryanair, which currently employs over 700 Hungarian pilots and cabin crew, will be holding an open recruitment day in Budapest on Tuesday next (7th Feb), inviting job applications from Malev pilots, cabin crew and engineers to help Ryanair gear up for this 4 aircraft, 2m passenger p.a. base at Budapest Airport. The International Airport Council figures confirm that this 2m pax p.a. will support 2,000 jobs at Budapest Airport.

This largest ever investment in Hungarian aviation and tourism is subject to reaching final agreement with Budapest Airport today on costs, facilities and handling, and Ryanair’s Deputy CEO Michael Cawley has travelled to Budapest to finalise these negotiations with Budapest Airport and the Hungarian Government. Because Ryanair has grounded up to 80 aircraft this winter, it has the capacity to respond immediately to the Malev grounding by moving aircraft, pilots and crews to Budapest within two weeks, in order to minimise the disruption to Hungarian consumers/visitors and tourism as a result of the Malev closure.

Ryanair’s new Budapest base will start on Friday 17th February at fares from €9.99/HUF2,999 and these 31 new routes go on sale at these HUF2,999/€9.99 fares on www.ryanair.com/hu
today.

Ryanair’s 31 new routes to/from Budapest from 17 Feb [quote]

Doesn't seem a coincidence that within days of Malev becoming Bankrupt this morning, ryanair announces new routes from Ferihegy a few days earlier.

And now today, it has announced a new base there.

Sad news for Malev, some 66 years of operation, very sad. Good news for Ryanair and it's passengers. Haven't visited budapest in years.


All Malev aircraft are currently being returned to their lender in shannon (flightradar24.com).

just listening to Shannon ATC .... sad day... its like dead man flying...

but what a move from FR!!!! to handle that case in this speed is just unbelievable. the death of malev was to be expacted, but it's just an enormous effort to react that quick now. i'm very, very impressed. sadly i'm booked on a malev flight in may, will see how it ends

if you ground 80 aircrafts in winter, you can rescue a couple of national airlines by the way

Ryanair reacted quickly because Budapest Liszt Ferenc airport (formely ferihegy) was in no position of negotiating due to the loss of it's main base airline 'malev'.
I may be wrong, but no other airline were based at Ferec other than Malev. Most of the outside traffic were scheduled/chartered non based airlines.


A loss of traffic for the airport would certainly mean a loss of income, jobs and hangars. Not to mention the affect of tourism in the city.



Wizz air has also taken the same step.
Air berlin may negotiate.

Only larger non flag carrier airlines are able to base aircraft overseas, particularly Ryanair with 80 at it's disposal during the winter to immediately base aircraft there without affecting other schedules.

Ryanair is very good at negotiating lower landing fees, airport charges at airports that are vulnerable and require larger traffic numbers.
Whether the airport is privately owned or owned by the government, tourism is everything.
But it is very uncommon for it to happen at an international airport, partcularly when it is the capital airport of such a fantastic city.

It is also good news for Hungarians who use ryanair and would normally take the 1 hour drive from budapest to Bratislava. Now it is on their doorstep.

Sad about Malev, but in March I am able to book 9.99 each way from manchester. Ha, ha.

Is BA on the verge of bankruptcy because I fancy a 9.99 deal to New York.