Ryanair set to post better profits but ash cloud drags May 31, 2010 BUDGET airline Ryanair is expected to report net profits of up to €315m (£266.2m) today when it delivers its full year results. Analysts are forecasting that the Irish-based carrier will deliver profits of more than €310m for the year ending 31 March, which will be roughly in line with the company’s expectations. Ryanair upped its [...]
Medici palace that became Europe’s most splendid hotel May 23, 2010 FOR a couple of London girls, fresh off a Ryanair flight and a battle with striking trains and lengthy bus queues, entering the Four Seasons Florence struck us dumb. We’d walked into a world of Italian royalty, papal splendour and elegance of a type you just can’t find outside of the country of Dante, Leonardo, [...]
Ryanair to appeal fine for mistreating passengers May 18, 2010 RYANAIR is to challenge a hefty fine handed down by the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) for the alleged mistreatment of passengers during the flight ban last month. Over the weekend, ENAC fined Ryanair €3m (£2.57m) for allegedly breaching European Union code EU261, which requires airlines to reimburse reasonable receipted expenses of disrupted passengers. ENAC [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS May 17, 2010 HARDY Execution Noble maintains a “buy” recommendation for Hardy given the current rating and high quality underwriting on its portfolio in the past. Execution said the group expects premium volume in 2010 to increase to £300m with further growth expected in 2011 as expansion continues through access to new geographies. IBERIA Royal Bank of Scotland [...]
Euro flights grounded by looming ash May 9, 2010 FLIGHTS into and from mainland Europe faced disruptions yesterday after the ash cloud emanating from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano continued to threaten air safety. Airports in Italy, Spain and Portugal faced a slew of weekend closures as authorities continued to report thick ash concentration between the ground and 20,000 feet in the air, grounding hundreds of [...]
BA to face fresh walk out threats May 6, 2010 BRITISH Airways (BA) could face more disruptions to its services as cabin crew finish voting today on whether or not to reject a peace offering from the airline and launch another strike action. Unite, the union representing the crew, had earlier urged staff not to accept the deal proposed by BA on the grounds that [...]
Ash grounds Scottish and Irish flights May 5, 2010 ICELAND’S volcano grounded flights out of Ireland and Scotland yesterday, as a fresh ash plume again disrupted the holiday plans of thousands of passengers. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) closed airspace in Ireland and Scotland, affecting major airports and international flights after the [...]
Ryanair chief in U-turn over ash payments April 22, 2010 RYANAIR yesterday backtracked on a controversial statement by chief executive Michael O’Leary which said the Irish budget airline would not reimburse stranded passengers for hotel expenses. Instead the budget airline boss said Ryanair would comply with European Union regulations and award compensation to passengers stranded by the volcanic ash cloud. A statement from the airline [...]
Ryanair backs down over passengers’ expenses April 22, 2010 RYANAIR has backed down over a decision to limit the expenses paid to stranded passengers. The Irish airline had said that expenses refunds would be limited to the sum travellers had paid for their tickets. That would have meant the company failing to pay for food and accommodation, as required under European regulations. The carrier [...]
New cloud casts doubt on flights April 19, 2010 A NEW ash cloud erupting from the Icelandic volcano has endangered plans to reopen British airspace. Major carriers had planned to operate long haul departures and short haul flights scheduled to fly after 7pm in a bid to help stranded passengers. But last night hopes faded as a ferocious new blast of volcanic ash drifted [...]