Ryanair to launch three new routes in 2013

Ryanair deputy chief executive Michael Cawley announced the addition of three new routes to its 27-route schedule from Malta.

The flights to and from Malta will start in April of next year to Gothenburg, Liverpool and Milan.

In comments to the press, Cawley lauded Ryanair's success in managing to deliver growth every year.

"Ryanair has the lowest fares and lowest seat costs in Europe and no fuel surcharges," he said, adding that average Ryanair fare was that of €53, almost half of Air Malta's €125. Even though Air Malta talks about reducing its fares, it'll never compare with ours."

Cawley said that Ryanair boasted of a 93% compliance to time schedule, while that of Air Malta stands at 84%.

With 53 bases, travelling to 173 airports in 28 countries with over 1,500 daily departures, Ryanair prides itself in being "Europe's only ultra-low cost airline".

Cawley said that the company estimates that next year, passengers travelling with Ryanair will be saving €72 million.

In Malta, Ryanair launched its base in 2006 and has since been delivering 170 weekly flights. Ryanair also has two based aircrafts in Malta.

"Our market share on the island is approaching the 25%, second to Air Malta's but well ahead of other airlines who are not capable of generating the routes we have managed to bing here to Malta," Cawley added.

He went on to say that if this year Malta experienced another year of record in passenger traffic, Ryanair expected that 2013 will beat this record.

Cawley commended government's work with regard to Air Malta's restructuring and its decision not to scare away low-cost airlines.

"The trick is to work together and Malta is indeed benefitting from its policies to support low-cost airlines."

According to Cawley, government's move has saved Air Malta from closing down.

He added that with its total of 30 routes, Ryanair will be helping to deliver some 1 million passengers and will be sustaining "1,000 on-site jobs at Malta International Airport".

Ryanair's new Malta routes will begin in April and will be available for booking on www.ryanair.com as from tomorrow. It is also launching a 100,000 seat sale with fares starting from €8 for travel across Europe in January, which are available for booking until midnight Thursday 20 December.