Ryanair to cut flights from Dublin Airport by 18 pct this winter

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Ryanair Holdings Plc. announced an 18 percent capacity reduction at Dublin airport this winter, citing as one of the reasons the fact that Dublin is the second most expensive of its base airports.

The budget airline also said that with oil prices currently at $140 a barrel, flights departing from high cost or expensive airports such as Dublin must be reduced this winter, during the low fare season.

Ryanair also confirmed that it had written to Dublin Airport seeking a reduction in the costs of these flights this winter, but this offer has been dismissed by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) monopoly.

The airline estimates that this cutback in winter capacity will result in almost 500,000 fewer passengers using Dublin Airport this winter. However by eliminating this traffic, Ryanair will minimise its losses at Dublin Airport this winter. Dublin Airport charges up to 15 euros per departing passenger -- more than the total airfare in many cases, Ryanair said. [e-mail] ypv/cmr COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.