Ryanair to Alicante

leirutxi

Hi!
I've read some news about a row between Ryanair and Aena over Alicante airport charges.

http://www.ryanair.com/en/news/ryanair-to-slash-alicante-base-by-80-percent-this-winter-as-airport-imposes-airbridges-to-increase-fees-by-2m-euro-p-a

Does anyone know If Ryanair will still be flying to Alicante?

At the moment there's only flights up to 24th March 2012. I'm looking to book for Easter and I'm getting a bit worried now...

Easyjet is too expensive now as they released their summer flights over a month ago...
Thanks.

Lincoln_Imp

Hope they are still flying ,I am going with them to ALC in the morning lol

Something to do with the use of airbridges which Ryanair dont use but AENA now want them to resulting in an increase in operating costs by some 2 million euro per year

Looks like they are cutting flights from 600 per week to 200

Lincoln_Imp

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said: “Alicante airport has opened up a new terminal building which was not needed, and to pay for it, Alicante expects efficient airlines like Ryanair to now use the same inefficient and high-cost airbridges that other high-fare flag carrier airlines prefer to use.
“We are not going to be bullied by an abusive airport monopoly, or forced to pay €2 million extra for inefficient airbridges which neither we nor our passengers want.”


For once you have to agree with O`Leary

richardw

They have so many flights to ALC, I'm not sure where they would fly to instead if an agreement wasn't made.
Are there suitable alternatives to Murcia or Valencia currently on sale?

davetrousers

What are airbridges?

richardw

They bridge the air between the terminal building and the aircraft, allowing passengers a weatherproof walk onto the plane.

gallygirl

Can't help I'm afraid, but I heard this also. I wonder if it's anything to do with the new airport opening at Corvera next year (allegedly!). Aena will be running it also, so less scope to play one off against the other, but they may be waiting to see what charges are?

Just hope Murcia doesn't close as is rumoured as most of our flights are booked to there (we have a place south of Murca).

Dave - airbridges are the things that connect to the plane to link you straight into the ternminal. The airports charge for using them, plus they take time to connect, so unpopular with Ryanair, especially as so many of their planes have their own steps anyway.

I'm wondering how long before Ryanair have a 'tippy-uppy' plane that just opens up and deposits you on the tarmac :rotfl:.

I'm actually a fan of Ryanair - all those who criticise them would do well to remember that it was they and Stelios who led the way the others have followed :T.

greyteam1959

Hi Gallygirl.......
I have a place near Mazarron, & Ryanair have no flights at all from 31st October until end of March 2012.
A real pain.......
Jet2 are my only alternative & they are usually double or treble what Ryanair charge.
January & February are lookiing very poor for flights to Murcia, Jet2 only have 4 flights in & 4 flights out in the first week of January.

leirutxi

Thanks for all your replies. I've decided I can't wait any longer and booked a flight to Bilbao with Easyjet instead of Alicante.

gallygirl

mervyn11 wrote: »

Hi Gallygirl.......
I have a place near Mazarron, & Ryanair have no flights at all from 31st October until end of March 2012.
A real pain.......
Jet2 are my only alternative & they are usually double or treble what Ryanair charge.
January & February are lookiing very poor for flights to Murcia, Jet2 only have 4 flights in & 4 flights out in the first week of January.

Hello neighbour :wave:, I'm just outside Mojacar, so Almeria is best for me but nowhere near as many flights as before. I have booked:

New Year - Monarch - Luton - Alicante
Easter - bmi - Bham - Murcia, back Monarch - Almeria - Bham
Whitsun - bmibaby - East Mids - Murcia
July - Sleazyjet - Gatwick - Almeria

Am restricted over days I can go on etc so I need a spreadsheet to work out options :rotfl:.

Teahfc

I have a property on the Mar Menor.
I spend 3-4 months in 2-3 wee periods at a time over there.
Just returned this past week and while out there this time have found out the following.

Alicante routes from UK ..due to the added cost plus the time issue of turning round the aircraft O leary is playing hard ball and with drawing some routes ( Alicante is a hub for Ryan air so he has been aware of this problem for some time). Alicante airport are standing firm as they are confident they will resolve the issue with Ryan Air.
O leary sees Eastern Europe as more of a profitable part of the continent as less restrictions for him.

Murcia region has signed a agreement with the operaters of the new Airport at Corvera to hand over existing commercial flights from San Javier in 2012 and San Javier will close as a commercial airport .

I had a look at the new airport from a distance (as the access road is closed off ) Terminal bulding is up as is the tower,the runway is in place and there is talk of a commercial International jet arrriving in December for a test run.

Ryan air have had discussions with AENA the operators of Corvera(and Alicante ) and as to date no info has been released.

Ryanair will cancel 31 routes from /to Alicante involving the following airports. Bournemouth, Derry, Cork, Doncaster, Humberside, Kerry and Knock.

Another 28 routes are being scaled back in frequency.

Is this O leary trying to get his own way with this almost Black Mail or will he lie down and take it ?

Watch this space !