Laudamotion’s low-cost fares on sale with Ryanair
Ryanair has started selling seats on its new Austrian airline partner Laudamotion’s summer flights.
The airline will fly from nine cities in Austria, Germany and Switzerland this summer.
It will have four aircraft based in Vienna, four in Berlin Tegel, six in Dusseldorf and one each in Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, Nuremberg and Stuttgart, and two in Zurich.
Ryanair has almost a 25% stake in the airline, which will increase to 75%, subject to approval by the EU Competition Authority.
Former Formula One racing driver Niki Lauda will chair the new Laudamotion board with the aim of establishing the airline as a new low-fares scheduled and charter carrier.
Ryanair is providing financial and management support for Laudamotion, as well as six wet-lease aircraft (with crew) for summer 2018.
Altogether, the airline will operate 21 aircraft from June. Its Berlin base will launch on June 1, offering flights to 17 summer sun destinations including Barcelona, Corfu, Ibiza and Palma.
All the routes have gone on sale on Ryanair.com and on laudamotion.com.
This coming winter, Laudamotion will focus on a city shuttle service with up to three more aircraft based in Vienna, said Ryanair.
In Vienna, Niki Lauda, said: "I am pleased to confirm that Laudamotion is now up and running and I would like to thank the Laudamotion team for all their hard work and enthusiasm, which has allowed us to start efficiently and on time. We look forward to building the Laudamotion brand and to creating new jobs, more promotional opportunities and greater consumer choice, particularly in Vienna where we will more than double our Airbus aircraft base next year."
"I am pleased to welcome Michael O’Leary and the Ryanair team to Vienna to mark the start of our partnership, which will see Laudamotion grow its fleet to more than 30 Airbus aircraft and provide wider choice and lower fares to Viennese consumers and visitors."
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said "We share Niki Lauda’s vision to develop a successful Austrian low fares airline in a market dominated by Lufthansa’s high fare Austrian and Swiss subsidiaries.
"Indeed, Laudamotion is now in pole position to accelerate rapidly in both the scheduled and charter markets in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
"This partnership will be of enormous benefit to both Ryanair and Laudamotion customers. The Laudamotion AOC will support a fleet of Airbus aircraft, which is something we have hoped to develop within the Ryanair Group for some years. And in turn, Ryanair will support Laudamotion by providing access to our fleet and financial resources, allowing for more rapid growth.
"This is also good news for Laudamotion’s people, providing improved job security and promotional opportunities at Austria’s first low fares airline."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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