Ryanair could fly to Brussels

The Irish low-cost airline Ryanair is planning business flights out of Brussels Airport in Zaventem, the company said. At present Ryanair flies only out of Charleroi – renamed “Brussels South” for marketing reasons.

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary was due to give a press conference today to shed further light on the plans. One of the intended destinations is Rome Fiumicino, currently served by Brussels Airlines out of Zaventem. Ryanair flies from Charleroi to Rome Ciampino, which is actually slightly closer to the city.

The company has not made clear what it means by “business flights,” but it seems likely it will involve higher ticket prices than those for regular flights out of Charleroi.

Brussels Airport described the veiled announcement as a “manoeuvre” and said it disapproved. The presence of Ryanair “did not fit in with the airport's development strategy,” the company said in a communiqué. There has been no contact between the two companies on the issue, the statement said.

However, should a request come, it will be difficult to turn down. “European law on this matter allows any European airline to fly into or out of the airport of their choice, proving there exist the necessary slots in timetables, and providing they pay the tariffs and taxes involved,” a spokesman said.

image credit: Adrian Pingstone/Wikimedia Commons