2012-11-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost airline, today (13 Nov) confirmed that the Irish Govt has failed to take up its offer to lower Ireland’s EU Presidency air fare costs despite Ryanair delivering a low-fares proposal to Government last September, based on Ryanair’s double daily return flights between Dublin and Brussels, which guarantees low fares for politicians and diplomats flying between the EU’s headquarters and Dublin.
Ryanair’s proposal to Govt offered an unbeatable cost saving package which included:
A fixed set one-way, unbeatable, fare of just €49.99
A “Presidency” helpline manned 18 hours a day
Over 30 days ‘credit’
Free flight changes
Dedicated assistance desks at both Dublin and Brussels Charleroi airports
Ryanair estimates that if just 1,000 trips were taken by Irish and EU officials over this 6 month period, the Irish Govt would save over €3.5m during the EU Presidency. However, despite the offer being sent to Minister for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton, on 20th Sept, Ryanair has yet to receive any reply or acceptance.
Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said:
“Ryanair sent this very low cost travel proposal to the Irish Government on 20th September, well ahead of the EU Presidency in January, which delivers an unbeatable, guaranteed low fare of just €49.99 one way, to ensure that Ireland could minimise its travel costs during the EU Presidency. Sadly, the Irish Government has not even responded to this proposal which could save the Irish taxpayer millions of euro.
With austerity and budget tightening now the focus of every EU state, it is time that governments stop wasting money flying with high-cost, frequently delayed, strike-ridden airlines like Aer Lingus. With Ryanair fares starting from just €49.99, civil servants can slash the amount of taxpayer money they waste and spend that money instead on much needed hospitals and schools here in Ireland. Sadly, it appears that this Government is all talk about savings, but there is no follow-up or action.”
###