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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ryanair to cut Stansted flights | Ryanair to cut Stansted flights |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Ryanair is to cut its services from London Stansted this winter by 20%, reducing flights to some destinations and temporarily cancelling others. | Ryanair is to cut its services from London Stansted this winter by 20%, reducing flights to some destinations and temporarily cancelling others. |
| The Irish-based carrier said the services affected would otherwise be making a loss. | The Irish-based carrier said the services affected would otherwise be making a loss. |
| Defending its decision, Ryanair attacked the doubling of airport charges at Stansted since April. | Defending its decision, Ryanair attacked the doubling of airport charges at Stansted since April. |
| Its announcement came as it unveiled a 20% rise in profit for the three months to the end of June. | Its announcement came as it unveiled a 20% rise in profit for the three months to the end of June. |
| It made a pre-tax profit of 139m euros (£94m; $191m) in the quarter, up from 116m euros a year earlier. | |
| 'Appalling' | 'Appalling' |
| Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary also attacked the level of service he said the airline got from Stansted and the airport's owner, BAA. | Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary also attacked the level of service he said the airline got from Stansted and the airport's owner, BAA. |
| "The current service provided by BAA at Stansted is nothing short of appalling," he said. | "The current service provided by BAA at Stansted is nothing short of appalling," he said. |
| "We continue to press for the break-up of the BAA airport monopoly which provides abject facilities, a third-rate service and charges extortionate prices." | "We continue to press for the break-up of the BAA airport monopoly which provides abject facilities, a third-rate service and charges extortionate prices." |
| BAA is the UK's main airport operator, owning seven airports in total, also including Heathrow and Gatwick. | BAA is the UK's main airport operator, owning seven airports in total, also including Heathrow and Gatwick. |
| Ticket price pressure | Ticket price pressure |
| Ryanair said its quarterly profits, which beat market expectations, were boosted by an 18% rise in passenger volumes. | Ryanair said its quarterly profits, which beat market expectations, were boosted by an 18% rise in passenger volumes. |
| It said that average ticket prices had been flat during the three months and were expected to fall in the second quarter from July to September. | It said that average ticket prices had been flat during the three months and were expected to fall in the second quarter from July to September. |
| However, for its full year to March 2008, it said profit growth would be upheld by the decision to reduce capacity on its non-profitable winter routes from Stansted, which would help to keep costs down. | However, for its full year to March 2008, it said profit growth would be upheld by the decision to reduce capacity on its non-profitable winter routes from Stansted, which would help to keep costs down. |
| It now expects its annual profits to rise 10%, compared with its earlier forecast of 5%. | It now expects its annual profits to rise 10%, compared with its earlier forecast of 5%. |