Ryanair to Launch Four New London Routes for Winter 2024

Ryanair, the leading low-fares airline in the UK, has announced the addition of four new routes from London to Dubrovnik, Linz, Reggio, and Sarajevo for the Winter 2024 season. The announcement, made on August 27th, highlights Ryanair’s commitment to expanding travel options for UK citizens and visitors at the lowest fares in Europe. These new routes will further enhance Ryanair's extensive UK network, which already includes over 640 routes and serves more than 57 million passengers annually.

The airline’s continued investment in the UK is evident, with 117 UK-based aircraft contributing to a $12 billion investment that supports over 45,000 British jobs. Ryanair’s expansion aims to bolster year-round tourism to and from the UK, offering unparalleled choice and reliability for travelers.

However, Ryanair's growth in the UK is being challenged by the high burden of Air Passenger Duty (APD), which the airline argues puts UK tourism at a significant disadvantage compared to other European countries. Ryanair has called on the new UK government to abolish APD for all flights, which currently adds £13 to the cost of every ticket. The airline asserts that removing this tax would enable it to further increase UK traffic, create 1,000 new jobs, and base 20 new Boeing MAX-10 aircraft at UK airports by 2030, contributing to a projected 14% growth in UK passenger traffic to 65 million per year.

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary emphasized the importance of low-cost air access for the UK, particularly as an island economy on the edge of Europe. He urged the UK government to take action by scrapping APD, allowing Ryanair to replicate the growth seen in other European markets, such as Italy, where tax reductions have led to significant investment and route expansion.

The new routes to Dubrovnik, Linz, Reggio, and Sarajevo are part of Ryanair’s broader strategy to provide UK travelers with more affordable travel options and to stimulate tourism growth across the region.