ALL HAIL “LYIN’ AIR” AS BLARNEY COMES TO BRUM

16-01-2008

Ryanair’s decision to expand its operations at Birmingham Airport has been greeted with almost universal acclaim in the local media, but The Stirrer wonders if we’ve all been taken in by the blarney of the company’s chief executive Michael O’Leary.

The Irish budget airline has undoubtedly helped bring cheap continental flights to the masses – and there’ll be more of the same as its routes from Brum expand to attractive destinations like Bologna and Barcelona along with more exotic ones such as Olbia.

For those willing to risk the wrath of environmental campaigners by flitting off on unnecessary but enjoyable long distance jaunts, Ryanair’s cheap prices ensure that Europe – if not the world – is your oyster.

Just a word of caution though. If you are flying with them, make sure that the airport you’re heading to is actually in (or near) the city that bears its name.

Ryanair is a past master at using cheap, far flung airports that are miles from popular destinations; Frankfurt (Hahn) is actually 75 miles from the well-known German city, while Stockholm (Skavsta) which will now be served direct from Brum is 62 miles from the Swedish capital.

Then there are those fare advertisements which have earned it the “Lyin’ Air” nickname – in 2006, flights promoted as free in fact attracted compulsory charges and taxes of between £11.70 and £21.70 (see link here).

Even after declaring in May 2007 that henceforth, “the price was the price” the company continued to promote fares which often bore no relation to the cost passengers actually paid.

Nor was this an isolated incident; last year, Ryanair fell foul of the Advertising Standards Authority on no fewer than five occasions, and was warned that if over-stepped the mark again, it would be referred to the Office of Fair Trading (this is money link here)

That’s not to mention all those fees for “extras” like, er carrying your luggage, and their appalling record of customer care; nor the frankly risible claim that by carrying an extra half a million extra passengers they’ll create an extra 5,000 jobs.

This is based on a conventional airline equation that says 1million passengers equals 1,000 jobs – neatly forgetting that Ryanair is a most unconventional airline which aims to strip out costs (and therefore staff) at every opportunity.

Don’t get us wrong – we wish the company well. If their Birmingham operation is successful, it will undoubtedly boost the local economy and make life easier for travellers.

We’d just prefer it Ryanair was a company the city could feel proud of having on board instead of becoming a regular source of embarrassment.