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 January, 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- ________
RYANAIR ANNOUNCES ITS NINTH EUROPEAN BASE
SIX NEW ROUTES (30 FLIGHTS DAILY) FROM STOCKHOLM SKAVSTA
Ryanair, Europe's No.1 low fares airline, today (Tuesday, 28th January 2003)
confirmed that it had chosen Stockholm Skavsta Airport to be its ninth European
base.
Starting in 9 weeks time (4th April 2003), Ryanair will allocate up to 4
aircraft to its new base in Stockholm, operating over 30 flights each day from
Stockholm on 6 new international routes to Aarhus, Glasgow, Hamburg, Paris, Oslo
and Tampere (Finland) - in addition to the hugely successful existing routes to
London and Frankfurt.
This new Scandinavian base will result in the creation of over 200 new jobs in
Stockholm and will result in over 1.5 million passengers being carried through
Stockholm Skavsta in the first year of this new base. These passengers will save
over SEK 3 billion compared with the high fares currently being charged by SAS,
Scandinavia's high fares airline.
As well as announcing details of its routes, Ryanair also announced launch air
fares from just SEK 299! Ryanair's one way fares will be at least 84% cheaper
than the one way fares currently offered by SAS.
ROUTES COMMENCES RYANAIR SAS SAVING
LONDON 4TH APRIL 03 From SEK 399 SEK 6824 95%
FRANKFURT 4TH APRIL 03 From SEK 399 SEK 6609 95%
AARHUS 4TH APRIL 03 FromSEK 399 SEK 2671 85%
OSLO 4TH APRIL 03 From SEK399 SEK 2569 84%
TAMPERE 4TH APRIL 03 From SEK 459 SEK 3169 85%
GLASGOW 4TH APRIL 03 From SEK 599 SEK 7092 91%
HAMBURG 4TH APRIL 03 From SEK 599 SEK 5004 88%
PARIS 4TH APRIL 03 From SEK 699 SEK 7774 91%
Announcing details of the 4th Continental European base in Stockholm today,
Ryanair's Chief Executive, Michael O'Leary said:
"Thanks to Ryanair, and Stockholm Skavsta Airport, the SAS high fares
monopoly in the Scandinavian market is at an end. Ryanair are breaking
the monopoly of SAS in the Scandinavian markets of Norway, Finland,
Sweden and Denmark - with choice and low fares which will save consumers
over 85% on the SAS high fares. For years, visitors to Stockholm and
Swedish consumers have had to put up with SAS's high air fares, but this
monopoly ends on 4th April 2003.
"Now there will be a choice of air fares and daily scheduled flights not
only to London and Frankfurt, but also to Oslo, Glasgow, Aarhus, Paris,
Tampere and Hamburg - and guaranteed at the lowest air fares - 85%
saving on the high fares charged by SAS. These fares are only available
at Europe's largest travel website, www.ryanair.com, and we would urge
people to book early as seats at these prices will sell out quickly.
"These routes will be operated by 4 of Ryanair's brand new Boeing
737-800 aircraft, and recruitment and training will shortly get underway
of 100 people in time for the base launch on 4th April 2003.
"Our passenger numbers have grown rapidly at Stockholm Skavsta Airport
since we began flying in June 1997. With these new routes and our base
investment, traffic growth at Stockholm Skavsta Airport will explode".
Welcoming Ryanair's announcement of Stockholm Skavsta Airport as its new base,
Dot Gade Kulovuori, Manager Director of Skavsta Airport said:
"Ryanair have been firm supporters of Stockholm Skavsta Airport for 5
years, and together we have seen passenger numbers increase year on
year.
"We are delighted that Ryanair share our ambitious plans for Stockholm
Skavsta and today's announcement and the new routes, will bring even
greater choice and low fares to the people of Stockholm, as well as
benefiting the local economy with in coming visitors and jobs."
Ends. Tuesday, 28th January 2003
For further information:
Paul Fitzsimmons Pauline McAlester
Ryanair Murray Consultants
Tel: 00 353 1 8121212 Tel: 00 353 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: 28 January 2003
By:___/s/ Howard Millar____
H Millar
Company Secretary & Finance Director