RYANAIR with typical modesty is celebrating carrying 250,000 more passengers than British Airways in the UK and Europe during September. Figures released this week by the carriers show Ryanair carried 2.373 million, 251,000 over the BA total. Ryanair head of communications Paul Fitzsimmons said more and more people were choosing Ryanair over BA in Europe every month because his airline offered Europe's lowest air fares coupled with No. 1 punctuality, frequency and customer service.
Meanwhile, Ryanair has sold its fleet of 20 Boeing 737-200 aircraft to Autodirect Aviation LLC including spare engines and parts for a total of $10 million. The aircraft were manufactured between 1980 and 1983 and six of the 20 had already been retired by Ryanair from operation. The remaining 14 will be delivered to Autodirect post their scheduled retirement between next month and December 2005. Ryanair said the aircraft and equipment would be fully depreciated at their date of disposal there was therefore no gain or loss arising on their disposal. Ryanair says that by the end of next year, it will have one of the youngest aircraft fleets in Europe and be the largest operator of Boeing Next Generation 737s.
http://www.ryanair.com