Major low-cost carrier Ryanair has furthered its expansion plans with the announcement of four new routes in Austria’s record flight schedule for summer 2024.
The upcoming peak season will see the addition of four new routes for Austria – Olbia, Rijeka, Split and Tirana – for a total of 84 routes.
Overall, the carrier projects traffic growth of 15% for the Austrian network to a new record number of 7 million passengers.
New Routes and Traffic Surge
In an announcement on 20 February, Ryanair declared the addition of four new routes – Olbia, Rijeka, Split, and Tirana – to its already extensive network in Austria.
These routes, integrated into the summer 2024 flight schedule, mark a significant expansion for the airline, offering further enhanced connectivity and access to sought-after destinations.
With a total of 84 routes now available, Ryanair’s presence in Austria is stronger than ever. The company anticipates a remarkable 15% surge in traffic volume, reaching a record-breaking 7 million passengers annually.
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This expansion caters to the continued growth in demand for air travel in the European aviation market.
AUA vs. Ryanair: Contrasting Trajectories
In laying out their projections for Australian network growth, Ryanair has questioned the performance of state-subsidized competitors, such as national carrier Austrian Airlines (AUA).
While Ryanair anticipates a 15% increase in traffic volumes, the budget carrier noted that AUA struggled to achieve growth, with a 1% uptick observed from 2019 to 2023.
Ryanair pointed out that it more than doubled its pre-Covid traffic volume, from 2.7 million to 6 million in 2023, achieving what it claims is the fastest recovery in Austria.
It should be noted that Austrian Airlines is not a low-cost carrier (LCC). While they offer competitive fares within their market segment, they are positioned differently than true LCCs like Ryanair or Wizz Air.
Michael O’Leary: Low-Fare Travel for All
Michael O’Leary, the outspoken CEO of Ryanair, expressed enthusiasm about the airline’s expansion plans and reiterated its commitment to democratizing air travel.
“We are pleased to be able to announce four new routes from Vienna in Ryanair’s Austrian record flight schedule for summer 2024,” he said.
O’Leary emphasizes Ryanair’s role in expanding low-fare traffic and introducing exciting new destinations, all while challenging the status quo dominated by legacy carriers like AUA.
To celebrate the launch of the summer 2024 schedule, Ryanair announced a three-day seat sale, with fares starting as low as €24.99.
This promotional offer underscores Ryanair’s dedication to making air travel affordable and accessible to a wide range of passengers, further solidifying its reputation as the go-to choice for budget-conscious travelers.
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