Ryanair Holdings : Break-up DAA monopoly after 4th year of declines

News Release

03.01.12

Break-up DAA monopoly after 4th year of declines

RYANAIR CALLS FOR BREAK-UP OF DAA MONOPOLY

TRAFFIC FALLS FOR 4th CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Ryanair today (29th Dec) called for the break-up of the DAA airport monopoly as it published the 2011 traffic for the three DAA airports (based on Jan - Nov actual performance and Dec estimates), showing a fourth consecutive year of traffic declines, from 22.6m passengers in 2010 to 22.1m in 2011.

Despite the artificially low 2010 comparables, because of volcano ash and snow closures, traffic over the last four years has fallen 21% at Dublin, 34% at Cork and a shambolic 56% at Shannon:

Pax (m)	2007	2008	2009	2010	*2011	Change
Dublin	23.3	23.5	20.5	18.4	18.4	-21%
Cork	3.2	3.3	2.8	2.4	2.1	-34%
Shannon	3.6	3.2	2.8	1.8	1.6	-56%
Total DAA	30.0	29.9	26.1	22.6	22.1	-26%

*2011 figures are based on Jan-Nov actuals and Dec estimates

Ryanair's Stephen McNamara said:

"Ryanair calls on the Government to deliver on its promise of change and reform and break-up the failed DAA monopoly as total traffic at the three DAA monopoly airports fell for a forth consecutive year. Overall traffic at the DAA monopoly is down 26% since 2007, with traffic continuing to decline at Cork and Shannon and stagnation at Dublin, which has now plummeted by 21% since 2007. If Ireland is to see any economic recovery in 2012 we need competition between Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports, reduce the DAA's high airport charges so that Irish airports can once again compete on price with their international counterparts, most of which have dramatically cut prices in 2010 and 2011 to return to growth while the DAA declined.