Ryanair unveils long-promised fare for business travellers
Ryanair has unveiled its long-awaited product for business travellers, which will offer those prepared to pay more for their tickets a raft of benefits.
For premiums starting from £59.99, Business Plus will offer passengers flexibility on ticket changes, 20kg checked-in baggage allowance, fast track airport security at selected airports, priority boarding and premium seats, which are those located at the front of the aircraft in rows 1 to 5 and next to the emergency exits in rows 16 and 17 and 32 and 33.
The airline said more than a quarter of its passengers were travelling on business and it expects up to 20% of its passengers will pay the extra for Businss Plus fares ‘over time’. Almost a quarter of its seats are classed as ‘premium’.
It will soon launch a second GDS partnership, which is said will allow more businesses to access its fares.
Chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs said: "Businesses are becoming smarter with their travel and over 25% of our customers already travel on business, choosing Ryanair for our low fares, industry-leading punctuality and the largest route network in Europe.
"We now offer even more business routes, connecting Europe’s major cities with additional flights and improved schedules, ensuring great savings for businesses of all sizes.
"This launch of Ryanair Business Plus, combined with our new groups and corporate service, and partnership with Travelport GDS – with a second GDS partner to be announced soon – will make business travel with Ryanair ever simpler, as we continue to offer so much more than just the lowest fares."
Meanwhile, Jacobs confirmed that Ryanair will put a takeover offer for Cyprus Airways to the Cyrpriot government on Friday as part of a plan to build a hub in the eastern Mediterranean.
"Passengers there are crying out for low-cost fares, they’re crying out for Ryanair," Jacobs told the BBC this morning. "The eastern Mediterranean is a really fast growing area, we now have 4.5 million passengers there."
The airline also announced today that it will offer three new routes from Stansted for summer 2015. It will launch new services to Colgne, Edinburgh and Glasgow from the Essex airport, as well as increased frequencies on 24 others to boost passenger numbers from Stansted to 17 million.
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
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers