Airline Departure Puts Denmark's Billund Airport in Predicament of Fill-in Space After Ryanair's Exit
Filling the Gap at Billund 🛫🇩🇰
After the last departing Ryanair flight from Billund, the airport is racing against time to recover the business lost when Ryanair closed their base at the airport and axed 24 services. 🚀
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The absence of Ryanair is expected to cost Billund nearly 1.1 million passengers this year, putting the staff on their toes to bridge the gap.
According to Jesper Klausholm, the head of programs, marketing, and communication at Billund Airport, "We're pulling out all stops to minimize the impact of Ryanair's departure as much as possible."
Ryanair's Exit Strategy
Ryanair announced in February that they would be shutting down their two-aircraft base at Billund and cancelling all their 24 services from the airport, effective March 2023. Their reasoning? Denmark’s new air travel tax, of course!
When the air travel tax is phased in gradually over the next five years, tickets prices could increase by up to 50 krone for all departures from Denmark.
New Airliners Stepping Up
Billund Airport has been busy making deals with airlines to introduce new routes, notably a new flight to London Gatwick with airline Norwegian and services to several Spanish destinations.
However, Klausholm admits it will take time to fully restore the loss of both choices for customers and passengers.
The Silver Lining
"That's a lot of passengers and routes we need to find alternatives for," Klausholm said, "But it offers an opportunity for other low-cost airlines."
Billund is currently in talks with exciting airlines that will "make a difference" in the near future. Nine new routes have already been announced since Ryanair's withdrawal. Norwegian and Wizz Air have jumped at the chance to fill some of the open slots, with routes to Malaga, Alicante, Gatwick, Poland, Lithuania, and Moldova.
A new service from Billund to Barcelona is also set to be offered by airline Vueling.
"Things are moving in the right direction, but it's never as fast as we'd like," Klausholm added. "We expect to bring in 200,000 passengers with our new routes, and next year looks promising."
Ryanair is the largest airline in Europe in terms of passenger numbers and the third-largest at Denmark's largest airport, Copenhagen, trailing behind SAS and Norwegian.
Looking Ahead
Join the conversation below and share your thoughts on the airlines filling the gap at Billund Airport.
Read More: The new flights from Denmark this spring and summer
- The closure of Ryanair's base at Billund Airport has led to a significant shortfall of approximately 1.1 million passengers this year.
- Billund Airport is gradually making efforts to recover the business lost due to Ryanair's departure, pulling out all stops to minimize the impact.
- In February, Ryanair announced the shutdown of their two-aircraft base at Billund and the cancellation of all 24 services, citing Denmark’s new air travel tax as the reason.
- The new air travel tax, which will be phased in gradually over the next five years, could increase ticket prices by up to 50 krone for all departures from Denmark.
- Billund Airport has been actively seeking out new airlines to introduce new routes, such as a new flight to London Gatwick with airline Norwegian and services to several Spanish destinations.
- The loss of Ryanair's services at Billund Airport presents an opportunity for other low-cost airlines, as evidenced by the new routes announced since Ryanair's withdrawal, including those offered by Norwegian, Wizz Air, and Vueling.
- The transportation industry, particularly aviation and finance, will closely monitor the implications of Ryanair's exit from Billund Airport on the business landscape and lifestyle of the region.
- In the coming year, Billund Airport expects to bring in 200,000 passengers with their new routes, offering a glimmer of hope for a thriving transportation industry in the near future.
