...Pricing strategies of low cost airlines Keith J Mason Air Transport Group Cranfield University K.Mason@Cranfield.ac.uk 1. Introduction Low cost airlines such as EasyJet, and Ryanair have developed quickly in the European market in the last five years. The UK market has seen the most dramatic development where by the summer of 2001, these carriers accounted for over 22% of the short haul capacity from London and were present in 58% of the 128 short haul routes operated from this city (source: OAG, 2001). During a five-year period from 1997, the seat capacity offered from London has risen by 17%, and virtually all of this rise (95.4%) was attributable to the low cost carriers. The low cost carriers have both penetrated and grown these markets, principally by garnering a consumer perception that the fares offered are very low. This perception has been developed in no small part by extensive advertising and effective use of public relations. For example, Ryanair has offered fares as low as one penny (plus taxes), and therefore it is not surprising that there is great media coverage of these carriers, which in turn generates more interest in the services. Both Ryanair and EasyJet have been very effective in using media coverage of their legal wrangles with traditional carriers such as British Airways and Lufthansa to promote their services and low fares. While the media has helped these airlines communicate their message of low fares to the public...
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...Executive Summary Ryanair operates as a cost leader in the European low cost carrier segment of the airline industry. As a cost leader they aim to achieve high volume sales by attracting customers with low prices. As a result of charging some of the lowest prices in the industry, Ryanair has seen growth in traffic and reported record revenues. To remain profitable the company focuses on maintaining low costs and efficient operations. The key issues facing Ryanair include how to remain profitable in light of rising fuel prices and currency exchange risk, the ability to maintain market share and growth in a segment characterized by intense competition, and whether or not it would be profitable to expand into the growing international/emerging markets and internet retailing space. In addressing these key issues, it is recommended that Costco focuses on opportunities in the internet retailing space to grow bottom and top line growth as well as increasing market share. It is also recommended that they remain committed to their low cost high inventory turnover strategy in order to continue to offer consumers the lowest prices and achieve high inventory turnover. By taking these initiating the strategies summarized above, Costco will be able to maintain their position as market leader and continue to operate profitably in the discount membership warehouse segment of the retail industry. Business Model & Strategy Ryanair operates as a cost leader in the low cost...
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...Case Study – Dogfight over Europe: Ryanair Business Landscape Item | Description | Impact | Government Intervention | Market Deregulation: * Free to set fares * European airlines to fly any route between EU countries * Any intra-country route between two European cities | Open for new competition | | European Union eliminated duty free sales on intra-EU flights | Has to pay duties | Ryanair Challenges & Strategy Description | Cashflow problem, Funded by Ryan Family | Strategy | Low cost carriersCost side: * Cut loss-making routes * Eliminate in-flight amenities (such as: free coffee and snacks) * Renegotiate labor contract (e.g: flight attendants pay is a function of duty-free sales and the number of flights they flew, “Luv” – pay based on productivity) * Stop distribution of meal vouchers to travelers whose flights delayed by bad weather * Stop using “air bridges” that linked parked planes to airport terminals * Reduce travel agents commission from 9% to 7.5% * Serve at secondary airports * Use other parties to handle ground operations * Not allow check baggage throughRevenue side: * Ticket, in-flight sales, car rentals, charter sales * In-flight duty-free sales, beverage, and snacks * Lease space behind seat-back trays and headrest to advertisers, exterior of plane with a corporate logi, in-flight magazine published with full advertisement | Routes | * 150 flights per day, 13 locations in UK, 4 locations in Ireland, 16...
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...9-106-003 REV: MAY 15, 2006 MARK T. BRADSHAW Ryanair Holdings plc Ryanair is a low-cost, low-fare airline headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, operating over 200 routes in 20 countries. The company has directly challenged the largest airlines in Europe and has built a 20-year-plus track record of incredibly strong passenger growth while progressively reducing fares. It is not unusual for one-way tickets (exclusive of taxes) to sell on Ryanair’s Web site for less than €1.00. See Exhibit 1 for an excerpt of Ryanair’s Web site, where fares between London and Stockholm, for example, are available for 19 pence (approximately US$0.33). CEO Michael O’Leary, formerly an accountant at KPMG, described the airline as follows: “Ryanair is doing in the airline industry in Europe what Ikea has done. We pile it high and sell it cheap. . . . For years flying has been the preserve of rich [people]. Now everyone can afford to fly.”1,2 Having created profitable operations in the difficult airline industry, Ryanair, as did industry analysts, likened itself to U.S. carrier Southwest Airlines, and its common stock has attracted the attention of investors in Europe and abroad. Low-Fare Airlines Historically the airline industry has been a notoriously difficult business in which to make consistent profits. Over the past several decades, low-fare airlines have been launched in an attempt to operate with lower costs, but with few exceptions, most have gone bankrupt or been swallowed up by larger...
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...expanded offerings of its low-fares services. Ryanair aims to offer low fares that generate increased passenger traffic while maintaining a continuous focus on cost-containment and operating efficiencies. A good pricing strategies had help Ryanair to achieve the objective and aims. Ryanair’s low fares are designed to stimulate demand, particularly from fare-conscious leisure and business travelers who might otherwise have used alternative forms of transportation or would not have traveled at all. Ryanair sells seats on a one-way basis, thus eliminating minimum stay requirements from all travel on Ryanair scheduled services, regardless of fare. Ryanair sets fares on the basis of the demand for particular flights and by reference to the period remaining to the date of departure of the flight with higher fares charges on flights with higher levels of demand for bookings made nearer to the date of departure. Ryanair’s tight cost control was the backbone of its low-price strategy. As a result of this cost focus, Ryanair had by far the lowest costs in Europe, about 40% lower than its closest competitors. One of the elements of Ryanair’s cost-control strategy is the use of secondary airports. Ryanair typically did not fly to the major “hub” airports in Europe but instead to secondary airports which were often located some distance away from major city centers. Secondary airport which located in economically depressed areas, Ryanair bargained hard for low fees. Rapid turnaround...
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...BIRD’S EYE VIEW SWOT Analysis of Ryanair SWOT TEAM Air Scoop launches a new range of articles called ‘SWOT Team’. Each month, we will publish a SWOT analysis of an European low-cost carrier. In this issue, we start with a global SWOT of the market. The no-frills carriers have created new markets, and opened up air travel. A greater proportion of their passengers are people who previously were using other modes of transport for travel, while a certain proportion are from traditional carriers. Relying as they do on linking region to region and by-passing ex¬pensive big-city hubs, lowcost carriers have caused rise in local employment. There is parallel growth in tourism; a rise in property investment and new businesses credited to good, cheap logistic connections. One of the strongest characteristics of the no-frills business model is the ability to adapt rapidly to circumstances. Cost savings of the no-frills business was achieved by effectively supplying a single standard service on all routes and improving both labor and aircraft productivity. Ryanair’s Chief Executive, Michael O’Leary’s, once claimed that “Low-cost airlines are the new Europe». This seems to have been amply proved by the tremendous impact LCC have had on Europe. Ryanair and easyJet are the leading low cost players owning around 50% of the share in the European LCC market. Ryanair is an Irish airline headquartered in Dublin. Its biggest operational base, however, is at London Stansted Airport. It is Europe’s...
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...BIRD’S EYE VIEW SWOT TEAM SWOT Analysis of Ryanair Air Scoop launches a new range of articles called ‘SWOT Team’. Each month, we will publish a SWOT analysis of an European low-cost carrier. In this issue, we start with a global SWOT of the market. The no-frills carriers have created new markets, and ope-ned up air travel. A greater proportion of their passengers are people who previously were using other modes of transport for travel, while a certain proportion are from traditional carriers. Relying as they do on linking region to region and by-passing ex¬pensive big-city hubs, low-cost carriers have caused rise in local employment. There is parallel growth in tourism; a rise in property investment and new businesses credited to good, cheap logistic con-nections. One of the strongest characteristics of the no-frills busi-ness model is the ability to adapt rapidly to circumstances. Cost savings of the no-frills business was achieved by ef-fectively supplying a single standard service on all routes and improving both labor and aircraft productivity. Ryanair’s Chief Executive, Michael O’Leary’s, once claimed that “Low-cost airlines are the new Europe». This seems to have been amply proved by the tremendous im-pact LCC have had on Europe. Ryanair and easyJet are the leading low cost players ow-ning around 50% of the share in the European LCC mar-ket. Ryanair is an Irish airline headquartered in Dublin. Its biggest operational base, however, is at London Stansted...
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...$100 a flight, deciding where to go is now mostly just a question of following your travel dreams: You're no longer limited to places within a convenient train ride (or reasonable drive) from each other. It's now entirely feasible to lace together a far-flung trip that ranges from, say, Ireland to Portugal to Sicily, if you please. Using Budget Airlines Since Europe deregulated its airways in the 1990s, a flock of budget-conscious, no-frills airlines have taken flight. Some of the most established (such as easyJet and Ryanair) have route maps that rival their mainstream competitors. Meanwhile, dozens of smaller, niche airlines stick to a more limited flight plan. For a list of many of these carriers — including websites and some of the destinations they serve — see the below. Budget airlines typically offer flights between major European cities for $50–250. You can even find some remarkable, it-must-be-a-typo deals if your timing is right (for example, Ryanair routinely flies from London to any one of dozens of European cities for less than $30). Even after adding taxes and a boatload of fees, these flights can still be a good value. To get the lowest fares,...
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...Ryanair – The low fares airline: Whither now? Main Problems Ryanair’s growth rate is affected by macroeconomic factors such as the recession, as seen in 2010 when Ryanair saw a 200% increase in profit and traffic growth, as the low fares became attractive for those suffering from the current climate. Uncertainty still remains regarding the economic climate; problems would arise if it continued, as passengers would reduce spending restricting the company’s passenger volume growth. If the economic climate was to grow, business and leisure passengers may choose to pay more and travel with a full service airline, this could consequently result in demand for low-cost flights to drop. One of the greatest concerns is fuel prices the ability to estimate future costs are limited due to unforeseen natural disasters and conflicts. Rising oil prices have had an impact on Ryanair, in 2008 Ryanair’s profit before tax was £439 million which fell down to £181 million the following year due to an increase in fuel costs by £100 million. As Ryanair’s declaration of ‘no fuel surcharge ever’, and its reliance on low fares limit its capacity to pass on increased fuel prices will inevitable result in low profits or ticket prices will have to rise. Ryanair faces stiff competition in Europe from a number of airlines including, BritishAirways, WizzAir, SkyEurope and EasyJet. In this competitive market airlines will need to adopt new strategies to avoid losing market share. Rivalry among existing...
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...Meng Sun 860983816 Case study 1-EasyJet EasyJet, one of Europe’s leading low-cost airlines, has competitive advantages because it adopts an efficiency-driven operational model, creating brand awareness, and maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction. Also, it is important that easyJet was the first mover. Now easyJet is one of the leading low-cost airlines in Europe. All of the competitive advantages are sustainable. As its mission statement writes, “To provide our customer with safe, low-cost, good value, point-to-point air services. To offer a consistent and reliable product at fares appealing to leisure and business markets from our bases to a range of domestic and European destinations. To achieve this we will develop our people and establish lasting partnerships with our suppliers,†easyJet is doing the best it can to satisfy its customers. Stelios Haji-Ioannou founded EasyJet in 1995. He was inspired by American low-cost carrier Southwest Airline and he modeled after Southwest Airlines but also added his own twists: avoid using agents and tickets, provide no-frilled travel and use brand new Boeing 737s. Stelios started with £5 millions that he received from his father. He operated two leased airplanes and one staff and chose Luton airport that was cheaper but still close to London downtown. The first easyJet flight was very successful because of its low price of £29 and extensive public relations and advertising. During 1995 to 1999, easyJet was expanding...
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...DOG FIGHT OVER EUROPE – RYAN AIR Protagonist. Cathal and Declan Ryan of RyanAir. Macro & Micro Industry Analysis. * The aviation industry over Europe and Atlantic routes was a heavily regulated and subsidised by the respective governments. * Most were heavily ‘unionised’. * Recessions of 70’s and oil crisis lead to a period of losses in most operators and were borne by the state in one manner or other. * Gradual ‘privatisation’ of the operators was in progress and allowed introduction of some new players but the market was not ‘even keel’. * In the British – Ireland segment the larger player ‘BA’ and Irish carrier Aer Lingus were established. * BA had a large ‘ticket sales network’ and was effective in a large volume through such agents 83%. * Aer Lingus was operating in loss as far as Trans Atlantic segment was concerned but making a profit in non transportation businesses it had diversified in. * Competition also existed in form of ferry service which took nine hours but costed only £55 for a return trip as compared to I£208 for BA and Aer Lingus. Problem Identification * Evaluate the possibility of sustaining the operation of RyanAir with two routes. Observations. The problem of Ryanair is basically concerned with three major components:- * Defining the Value Proposition to the Customers. In this case the values of air travel in a country which typically does not lend itself to commercial aviation in comparison to a cheaper option...
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...Dogfight over Europe : Ryanair (A) 1. Assessment of Ryanair's launch strategy To analyze the launch strategy of Ryanair i.e. its direction & purview to achieve advantage over rivals by adapting with available resources & build competency we need to first look into the industry level analysis, profitability potential & competitive dynamics and then assess its launch strategy. PORTERS FIVE FORCES * COMPETITORS : * Deregulation-increased rivalry, Competition for marginal customers * Strategic Alliances eg - Aer Lingus & BA * Comfort & premium services to Business Class * Increased use of online ticketing Ryanair’s Perspective: Intense & increasing competition (Aggressive) * ENTRY BARRIER : * Rise of Charter flights in Europe * European Deregulation-New Competitors; Pricing, routing, pooling abolished * Huge financing to enter may cause high entry barrier for new entrants * High maintenance costs & personnel costs * Low/unstable prices & profitability Ryanair’s Perspective: Moderate threat of entry * SUBSTITUTE : * Accessibility: Other cheaper form of transports eg-fast rail & land travel * Charter flights for Holiday goers * Flights bundling ancillary services such as lodging along with cheap fares Ryanair’s Perspective: Low threat from Substitutes * BUYER POWER : * Increased customer base for air travel due to increased competition...
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...EasyJet underlines advantage over budget competitors as profit soars EasyJet underlined its growing advantage over budget rivals, reporting annual profit at the top end of forecasts and returning cash to shareholders. The upbeat assessment is in contrast to that given by Ryanair, Europe's biggest budget airline, which this month cut its annual profit target for the second time in two months and admitted it needed to improve customer service. Rival airlines have been struggling with high fuel costs and weak consumer confidence, sending some smaller carriers out of business while the likes of British Airways owner IAG and Air France-KLM have cut routes, leaving gaps that low-cost airlines have been quick to exploit. Over the last three years easyJet has added flights on routes where rivals have cut back, and introduced more flights between top business destinations. It has also added flexible ticketing to allow passengers to change their flight up to two hours before scheduled departure time, and allocated seating in an attempt to steal corporate customers. EasyJet proposed a full year dividend of 33.5 pence a share, 55.6pc up on last year, and a special dividend of 44.1 pence per share, making a total payout to investors of £308m. It said forward bookings were in line with last year but that its first quarter would be impacted by tough year-on-year comparisons due to strong post-Olympics demand in the UK and travel restrictions to Egypt. However, EasyJet still expects to...
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...Low cost airlines Definition of low cost airlines Ryanair is a low cost carrier, well-known in Europe which started in 1991 as a ‘no-frills’ service airline between Ireland and the UK. By 1995, Ryanair spread to more European countries. Nine years later it carried 20 million passengers and 10 years after that, in 2010, the number of passengers doubled to 45 million. This low-fare short-haul airline was no\t the first airline was not the first airline with these characteristics. It was Southwest Airlines, an American airline which was introduced in 1967 and still going strong in 2016. (Quintano, 2015) Low cost airlines can be defined as being practical in a way that different low cost airlines offer different services. Some low cost airlines...
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...This report analyses and evaluates the potential for EasyJet to continue to be competitive in the UK and Europe but also the opportunity to expand into India INTRODUCTION – THE COMPANY AN OVERVIEW Easyjet Airline was established in 1995 by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou a Greek Cypriot as part of EasyGroup Holdings Ltd. He envisaged it as a low cost airline which could impact on the existing domestic market in the UK which was at the time dominated by large British companies such as British Airways and British Midland. The Company started with two leased airplanes and began operating from London Luton to Glasgow and Edinburgh In 1996 they began operating from Luton to Amsterdam and now in 2014, operate on 633 routes across more than 30 countries and own 217 Airbus aircraft. They employ over 8,000 people including 2,000 pilots and 4,500+ cabin crew and in 2013 they flew over 60 million passengers They now claim that “over 300 million people within a one hour drive of an EasyJet airport” (Easyjet About Us 2013) The obvious move for the airline for further growth may now be outside of Europe and India may be the best market to consider. PESTLE Analysis Political/Legal Up to April 1997 the European Airline Market was regulated strictly and each county controlled their own airline companies. After 1997 and deregulation the European market opened up for carriers and subsequently for example an Irish low cost carrier like Ryan Air was allowed to operate between two other European countries...
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