SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of November, 2004
RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
c/o Ryanair Ltd Corporate Head Office
Dublin Airport
County Dublin Ireland
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No ..X..
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
RYANAIR - $240M INVESTMENT IN NEW LIVERPOOL BASE
9 NEW EUROPEAN ROUTES FROM LIVERPOOL
TO FRANCE - IRELAND - ITALY - SPAIN
Ryanair, Europe's No.1 low fares airline, today (Monday, 22nd November 2004)
announced it's 12th European base at Liverpool's John Lennon Airport with an
investment of $240M in 4 new Boeing 737-800 series aircraft and 9 NEW European
routes from Liverpool to:
NEW ROUTES:
BARCELONA (REUS) LIMOGES PISA
CORK MURCIA SHANNON
GRANADA NIMES VENICE
CURRENT ROUTES:
BARCELONA (GIRONA) DUBLIN MILAN ROME
Ryanair, which began services at Liverpool in 1988, already operates 14 daily
international flights from Liverpool to Barcelona (Girona), Dublin, Milan and
Rome. Over the next 12 months Ryanair will carry 1.4M passengers to/from
Liverpool, saving consumers over EUR30M on high fares charged by Easyjet. This
new base announcement and massive increase in routes, destinations and passenger
numbers is also good news for the local economy too, because it will create and
sustain over 1000 new jobs in the Liverpool area.
Also today, Ryanair announced new daily routes from Blackpool to Barcelona and
Pisa to Barcelona. Ryanair already operates two successful routes from Blackpool
to Dublin and London Stansted, and 5 daily routes from Pisa to Brussels,
Glasgow, Hamburg, Frankfurt Hahn and London Stansted.
Announcing Ryanair's 12th European base in Liverpool today, Ryanair's CEO
Michael O'Leary said:
"Consumers from Merseyside using Liverpool's John Lennon Airport now
have a real low fares airline offering fares that are almost half the
price of Easyjet, serving 13 destinations throughout Europe and
delivering unbeatable punctuality, and that's Ryanair."
"Our message to Easyjet is simple - You can't match Ryanair's low fares
and you can't match Ryanair's punctuality and customer service either."
"These new routes from Liverpool, with fares from an incredible GBP2.99
(excl. taxes)are available for booking right now, at www.ryanair.com,
Europe's biggest travel website."
Neil Pakey, Managing Director of Liverpool John Lennon Airport commented:
"Ryanair's committment is a clear' coming of age' for Liverpool John
Lennon Airport bringing an additional 1 million passengers through the
Airport next year. Liverpool is clearly seen by the airline industry as
a gateway airport for the North of England and in particular for the low
cost airline market. Ryanair's decision to base four aircraft here will
bring significant benefits for the North West including around 1000 jobs
being created in the region's economy."
"In addition, Liverpool's Capital of Culture status is further enhanced
as more Europeans will be able to visit Merseyside via convenient direct
flights and importantly with low fares."
RYANAIR EASYJET
PUNCTUALITY * 85% 79%
AVERAGE FARE** EUR40 EUR62
*SOURCE - OFFICIAL CAA STATS FOR APR-JUN 04. ** ANNUAL PUBLISHED ACCOUNTS
FROM LIVERPOOL TO:
ROUTE FREQUENCY START DATE LOWEST FARE
(ex taxes)
BARCELONA (REUS) 1 X DAILY 31 MAR 05 GBP7.99
CORK 1X DAILY 26 APRIL 05 GBP2.99
GRANADA 1 X DAILY 26 APRIL 05 GBP12.99
LIMOGES 3 X WEEKLY 19 APRIL 05 GBP4.99
MURCIA 1 X DAILY 31 MAR 05 GBP17.99
NIMES 4 X WEEKLY 20 APRIL 05 GBP4.99
PISA 1 X DAILY 19 APRIL 05 GBP12.99
SHANNON 1 X DAILY 3 MAY 05 GBP2.99
VENICE 1 X DAILY 26 APRIL 05 GBP4.99
Ends: Monday, 22nd November 2004
For further information:
Paul Fitzsimmons - Ryanair Pat Walsh - Murray Consultants
Tel: 00 353 1 812 1228 Tel: 00 353 1 4980300
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
Date: 22 November 2004
By:___/s/ Howard Millar____
H Millar
Company Secretary & Finance Director