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Irish ultra-low-cost carrier Ryanair on Tuesday resigned from an industry group set up by the British government to help implement its aviation strategy, dismissing it as a “talking shop” which has delivered no benefits or reforms for passengers.
The UK Aviation Council first met in February to advise on a ten-year plan set out by ministers last year to – among other goals – grow airport capacity, boost the use of sustainable aviation fuels and improve consumer experience.
“Ryanair’s decision is disappointing,” a UK government spokesperson said in a statement to Reuters, adding that the Aviation Council was set up to bring the industry and government together to “address shared challenges facing the sector.”
The members of the group include the chief executives of major airlines operating in Britain, including British multinational low-cost airline group easyJet and IAG-owned British Airways, along with the heads of airports and trade bodies.
Ryanair said it urged the government in February to cut UK visa costs, push for effective air space reform in Europe and improve border control, air traffic control and handling staffing.
“We joined the UK Aviation Council when Transport Minister Mark Harper assured us it would be used as a “delivery body” to improve the resilience of UK aviation,” Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O’Leary said in a statement.
“Sadly, this has proved to be an empty promise and the council has become a talking shop for government bureaucrats and the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) to waffle on about reform while delivering none.”
The airline said it had plenty of crew and pilots but worries over air traffic meant it had cancelled 1,700 flights, mostly from its biggest base at London’s Gatwick airport, out of the 90,000 scheduled for the rest of July and August. It said 95% of affected passengers had already been re-booked on an alternative flight because it had mostly consolidated flights with multiple frequencies.
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