SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of September, 2003
RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
c/o Ryanair Ltd Corporate Head Office
Dublin Airport
County Dublin Ireland
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No ..X..
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
RYANAIR ANNOUNCES 260,000 SEATS AT GBP1.00 AT TODAY'S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Ryanair, Europe's No.1 low fares airline today (24 Sept'03) held its Annual
General Meeting in Dublin and celebrated the event by releasing 260,000 seats
for sale at just GBP1.00 one way (excl. tax). These seats are available only at
www.RYANAIR.COM, and must be booked from 11.00am Wednesday 24 Sept'03 to 4.00pm
Thursday 25 Sept'03.
Speaking at today's AGM, Ryanair's Chief Executive, Michael O'Leary said;
"Ryanair's business continues to be robust, with stronger traffic numbers
albeit at lower than expected yields. We believe that the yield environment
this Winter will continue to be depressed. Ryanair remains committed to
driving down air fares, to make air travel more affordable for ordinary
European consumers, and to offer choice and competition to the high fare
flag carriers that have been overcharging for years. Costs remain under
strict control and we therefore remain comfortable - given no changes in
present circumstances - with the consensus range of analyst expectations for
the fiscal year.
"Ryanair continues to work closely with the EU Commission, in order to
expedite their investigation of our Charleroi agreement. We remain confident
that Commissioner de Palacio will in her decision formulate a framework
which will not just allow but encourage all publicly owned airports to
compete on a level playing field with privately owned airports all over
Europe.
"There has been some ill founded speculation that this decision may
adversely damage Ryanair's business model. This is not the case. Publicly
owned airports, particularly in the regions of Europe, will continue to
compete aggressively to win the low fare, high volume business which Ryanair
generates and no EU ruling could ever prohibit or constrain publicly owned
airports from competing with the many privately owned airports which Ryanair
operates to.
"Ryanair has revolutionised air travel all over Europe. We are the airline
with the lowest fares, and we are the airline opening up direct scheduled
services to many secondary and regional airports. As the current KLM - Air
France merger discussions highlight, the airline industry in Europe is
consolidating into a small number of mega carriers who are forcing consumers
to connect across a few large hub airports at much higher prices. In these
circumstances it is vitally important that independent low fares airlines
like Ryanair provides competition, consumer choice, lower fares and direct
services which allow customers to by-pass the congested hub airports and
create jobs for local people in their local tourism industry and a viable
economic future.
"By contrast to our rapid growth all over Europe, the situation in Ireland
remains pitiful. Whilst we welcomed the Government's decision to break up
the Aer Rianta monopoly, the slow pace of change, and the continuing failure
to adopt and approve competing terminals at Dublin Airport is hindering
competition, choice and lower access fares into Ireland. For a country which
has such an outstanding record of being forward looking and forward thinking
in attracting inward investment, I find it incredible that the enormous
investment in aircraft, jobs and tourism offered by Ryanair, is still being
held up by nothing other than a lack of action by the Irish Government.
"For our part in Ryanair, we remain committed to developing new bases, new
routes at existing bases, and additional frequencies on existing routes as
we grow to almost 24 million passengers in the current year. This growth
will be facilitated by our continuing investment in up to 250 brand new
Boeing 737-800 series aircraft, by the creation of 2,000 new jobs for
pilots, cabin crew, engineers and ground handling staff at new bases all
over Europe, and by continuing to offer air fares that will be on average at
least 50% cheaper than our nearest competitor.
"We estimate that over the past 12 months Ryanair's 20 million passengers
have saved over EUR2bn over the high fares charged by our competitors.
Ryanair is opening up many secondary and regional airports which the flag
carriers have either avoided or withdrawn from. Ryanair is revolutionising
tourism and low cost access to cities and towns all over Europe and playing
a leading role in advancing the integration of the people all over the
European Union. To celebrate we are releasing 260,000 seats for sale at just
GBP1 one way (excl. taxes), but these seats are only available up to 4.00pm
on Thursday 25th of September and can be booked now at www.RYANAIR.COM."
Ends Wednesday 24th September 2003
For further information
please contact: Paul Fitzsimmons Pauline McAlester
Ryanair Murray Consultants
Tel. 353-1-8121212 Tel. 353-1-4980300
Note:
Booking period: Wed 24th Sept - 4.00pm Thurs 25th Sept.
Travel Period: 1st Oct - 23 Oct 03 (excl. 17th-19th Oct 03)
Applicable days: 12.00 Mon - 13.00 Thurs & Sat after 12.00
Advance purchase: 7 days
Subject to availability - terms and conditions apply
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
Date: 24 September 2003
By:___/s/ Howard Millar____
H Millar
Company Secretary & Finance Director