Ryanair, the
Irish low cost airline, has said that it plans to return to 40 percent of
normal flight schedules from Wednesday, July 1, 2020, subject to Government
restrictions on intra-EU flights being lifted, and effective public health
measures being established at airports.
Ryanair will
operate a daily flight schedule of almost 1,000 flights, restoring 90 percent
of its pre-Covid-19 route network. Since the Covid-19 flight restrictions in mid-March,
Ryanair has been operating a skeleton daily schedule of 30 flights between
Ireland, the UK and Europe. From July, Ryanair will restart flying from most of
its 80 bases across Europe. Full details of these routes, frequencies, flight
times, and promotional prices are available on www.Ryanair.com
Ryanair is urging
passengers to observe effective health measures to limit the spread of Covid-19
virus. These include fewer checked bags, check in online, downloading boarding
pass via smart phone, as well as undergoing temperature checks at airport entry
and wearing face masks/coverings at all times in the terminal and on board
aircraft.
All Ryanair
aircraft are fitted with HEPA air filters (similar to those used in critical
hospital wards) and all aircraft interior surfaces are disinfected every night
with chemicals, which are effective for over 24 hours. While temperature checks
and face masks/coverings are key to this healthy return to service, social
distancing at airports and onboard aircraft will be encouraged where it is
possible.
On board its
aircraft, Ryanair offers limited in-flight service of pre-packaged snacks and
drinks, but no cash sales. All onboard transactions will be cashless. Queuing
for toilets will be prohibited on board and toilet access will be made
available to individual passengers upon request. Ryanair encourages passengers
to regularly hand wash and use hand sanitizers in airport terminals.
Ryanair’s CEO
Eddie Wilson said: ‘It is important for our customers and our people that we
return to some normal schedules from 1 July onwards. Governments around Europe
have implemented a 4 month lockdown to limit the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
After 4 months, it is time to get Europe flying again so we can reunite friends
and families, allow people to return to work, and restart Europe’s tourism
industry, which provides so many millions of jobs.
Seats on all
these flights are now on sale at www.Ryanair.com from 1 July, at prices which
start from just EUR19.99 one way. We will continue to work closely with public
health agencies to encourage our people and passengers to adopt practical and
effective steps to limit the spread of Covid-19 virus, in the best interest of
our passengers, our people and our communities.’
As EU States
emerge from their respective Covid-19 lockdowns, Ryanair will also require all
passengers flying in July and August to fill in details (at the point of check
in) as to the duration of their visit, and also their address while visiting
another EU country. This contact information will be provided to EU Governments
to help them to monitor any isolation regulations they require of visitors on
intra-EU flights.