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 April 2005
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 ANNOUCES AGREEMENT FOR A NEW BASE
AT LUEBECK AIRPORT
4 AIRCRAFT, 10 ROUTES AND 2M PASSENGERS PER ANNUM FOR LUEBECK
Ryanair, Europe's No. 1 low fares airline, today (Thursday, 14th April 2005)
announced it has reached agreement with Infratil to base up to 4 new 737
aircraft and deliver up to 2 million passengers per annum to Luebeck airport.
This agreement is subject to the successful completion of a conditional purchase
agreement between Infratil and the City of Luebeck announced on (14) April.
Settlement of the transaction is expected to occur a few months' time
Infratil is an international airport and infrastructure investor, which owns
Wellington International Airport and Glasgow Prestwick Airport. The agreement
builds on the success of Ryanair's base at Glasgow Prestwick Airport where
Ryanair has 5 based aircraft and in the current year the airline will operate 17
international routes and carry 2.4 million passengers.
Ryanair would operate a network of low fare scheduled international routes from
Luebeck to the UK and Europe and would deliver 2 million passengers in the first
year of this base. Ryanair will invest over $250M in 4 new B737 aircraft and
create over 200 new jobs in Luebeck. The massive increase in passenger traffic
would boost Hamburg Luebeck to the top ten international airports in Germany
(nudging Leipzig/Halle off the number 10 spot with 2,026,550 passengers in
2004).
According to ACI figures, these 2 million passengers will generate 2,000 new
jobs in the Luebeck region, with the first 200 of these being direct Ryanair
employees (pilots, cabin crew, engineers, etc).
Commenting on the deal today, Ryanair's COO and Deputy CEO Michael Cawley said:
"Our agreement with Infratil to base aircraft and deliver substantial
passenger volumes to Luebeck Airport demonstrates the success of the low
fares model of using low cost secondary airports. This new base would
revolutionise the future growth of Luebeck Airport and represents an
investment of $250 million by Ryanair in Luebeck. This new base would
make Luebeck Airport the low cost gateway to Luebeck and the entire
region of Northern Germany and would promote tourism access to the
region for UK and European visitors. The new base would also mean that
passengers using Luebeck Airport would enjoy even more of Germany's
lowest ever air fares with Germany's cheapest airline. Ryanair looks
forwarded to working with Infratil to realize this ambition and
revolutionise air traffic at Luebeck airport".
Ends: Thursday, 14th April 2005
For further information:
Caroline Baldwin - Ryanair Pauline McAlester - Murray Consultants
Tel:0044 7979 59364 Tel: 00 353 1 4980 300
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: 14 April 2005
By:___/s/ Howard Millar____
H Millar
Company Secretary & Finance Director