Ryanair's retreat leads to decline in travelers at Billund Airport
Title: Major Hurrah-Fare at Billund Airport Following Ryanair's Exit
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In an unfortunate yet predictable turn of events, Billund Airport is grappling with a substantial decline in passenger numbers since budget airline Ryanair vacated its two-aircraft base and axed all 24 services in April.
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April's traffic figures clocked in at 217,713 travelers—a staggering decrease of nearly 100,000 travelers compared to the same month last year. That's a whopping 31.4% drop in passenger numbers.
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Perhaps unsurprisingly, the airport's CEO, Jan Hessellund, seemed blasé about the situation, stating in a press release, "This level of traffic in April aligns well with our expectations for the coming months and the year overall."
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Ryanair announced its departure back in February, citing Denmark's new air travel tax as the culprit. Since then, Billund Airport has inked agreements with a selection of airlines to introduce new routes. Topping the list is Norwegian's new flight to London Gatwick, with services to several Spanish destinations also on the horizon.
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However, when we look beyond the Ryanair passenger numbers, the image begins to brighten. According to Hessellund, excluding Ryanair traffic, passenger numbers swelled by 4.5% during the first four months of the year, indicating some promising Greenlandice (because, why not?) growth.
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Of the approximately 130,000 Ryanair passengers that vanished in April, it seems that Billund Airport and its new partners will need to figure out ways to convert those lost bodies into revenue. But hey, as the old adage goes, every cloud has a (cruise) liner.
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Norwegian and Wizz Air have already entered the fray, announcing new routes to Malaga and Alicante, as well as flights to Poland, Lithuania, and Moldova. Another airline, Vueling, is also planning a service to Barcelona. To top it all off, Air Greenland has launched two weekly flights to Nuuk, while SAS has resumed its domestic service to Copenhagen with four daily departures.
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So there you have it—the tumultuous tale of Billund Airport following Ryanair's exit, complete with drama, rising prices, and a hint of opportunity. Feel like sharing your thoughts? Our comments section is at your disposal. Intrigued by our coverage? Don't hesitate to connect with us at [email protected]. Take care, and we'll catch you in the next read!
Further Insights:
- Ryanair's departure initially led to unprecedented airfare increases, with European routes from Billund skyrocketing by up to 1,100% on the cheapest remaining options[3][4].
- Billund Airport's woes are happening on the heels of the Danish government's 6 billion DKK insurance proposal for merchant ships during conflicts, indicating broader economic concerns[2]. However, no direct airport recovery plan has been announced as of now.
- The empty spaces left by Ryanair's departure at Billund Airport have opened up new opportunities for other airlines, such as Norwegian and Wizz Air.
- These new airlines have announced new routes to various destinations, including Malaga, Alicante, Poland, Lithuania, Moldova, and Barcelona.
- Air Greenland has also launched two weekly flights to Nuuk, while SAS has resumed its domestic service to Copenhagen with four daily departures.
- Since Ryanair's exit, there has been a significant drop in overall passenger numbers at Billund Airport, with April traffic figures falling by nearly 100,000 travelers compared to the same month last year.
- Despite this drop, the airport's CEO, Jan Hessellund, remains optimistic about the future, citing a 4.5% increase in passenger numbers when Ryanair traffic is excluded.
