Ryanair Celebrates 40 Years of Disrupting Air Travel
From humble beginnings to a European giant, the budget airline’s journey is marked by innovation and controversy.
Four decades ago, on July 8, 1985, **Ryanair** took off from Waterford to London Gatwick, forever changing the landscape of air travel and Ireland itself. What began as a small operation has blossomed into Europe’s largest airline, though not without turbulence.
Early Routes and Rapid Expansion
In its initial years, **Ryanair** expanded its network to include 15 routes, serving cities such as Cardiff, Liverpool, and Glasgow. The airline also established regional connections to Cork, Galway, Shannon, and Knock airports, setting the stage for its future dominance.
The O’Leary Era: No-Frills and Fearless Stunts
Under the direction of **Michael O’Leary**, who became CEO in 1994, **Ryanair** embraced a “no-frills” approach. By standardizing its fleet with Boeing 737s and focusing on secondary airports, the airline significantly reduced operating costs and landing fees. A controversial plan to charge passengers to use the toilets on flights in 2009 never materialized.
Furthermore, **O’Leary** introduced charges for services previously included in the ticket price, such as checked baggage, seat selection, and onboard refreshments. By the early 2000s, these strategies propelled **Ryanair** to become a major player in the European market, transporting millions of passengers each year.
Controversies and Publicity Stunts
**O’Leary** isn’t known for shying away from publicity. In 2010, he staged a protest at Dublin Airport with a hearse, symbolizing the “death of Irish tourism”
due to the opening of Terminal 2.
Podcast Retrospective
To delve deeper into **Ryanair’s** 40-year history, **Kevin Doyle** and **John Mulligan**, Senior Business Journalist, explore the airline’s low fares and high drama on “The Indo Daily” podcast.
According to Eurocontrol, **Ryanair** operated the most flights in Europe in 2023, with an average of 3,074 flights per day, underscoring its massive scale and reach (Eurocontrol).
