6-K
1
a7001g.htm
RYANAIR ANNOUNCES $3BN POST WAR UKRAINE PLAN
a7001g
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 July 2023
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 $3 BILLION POST WAR UKRAINE GROWTH &
INVESTMENT PLAN
UP TO 30 AIRCRAFT AND 10M PASSENGERS P.A. IN UKRAINE
Ryanair, Europe's largest airline, today (Thurs
20th July)
held an important meeting in Kyiv, together with Deputy Prime
Minister for Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for
Infrastructure, Oleksandr Kubrakov, at which it unveiled plans to
invest heavily (over $3 billion) to rapidly rebuild Ukraine's
aviation industry once the war ends and EASA declares that flying
to/from Ukraine is safe again. Ryanair also held meetings today in
Kyiv with the Ukraine's main airports, Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa in
Boryspil International Airport at the invitation of Oleksiy
Dubrevskyy, CEO of Boryspil international
Airport.
During the visit, Ryanair's senior management and the airport
examined the condition of the airport terminals, baggage claim and
passenger check-in and boarding gate areas, control points, aprons,
where they saw the excellent state of the airport infrastructure
and its operational readiness to resume flights when safe to do so.
Ryanair congratulated the efforts of the employees of Boryspil
International Airport to save and maintain the operability of the
airport's infrastructure facilities during the war.
Michael O'Leary, CEO of the Ryanair Group, was inspired by the
dedication of Boryspil Airport employees, who are motivated and
comprehensively working for the post-war recovery of air traffic.
He emphasized: "Ryanair remains a committed partner in rebuilding
and investing in Ukraine aviation. Today we saw that in the most
difficult conditions of war, the Boryspil airport team demonstrates
its professionalism and is fully ready for the resumption of
flights as soon as possible.
Ryanair has committed to returning with low fare flights to/from
Ukraine within 8 weeks of the reopening of Ukraine air space. This
will see 600 weekly flights being operated by Ryanair aircraft from
the main airports of Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa, connecting these cities
to over 20 EU capitals. In addition, Ryanair plans to open daily
domestic flights between Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa, as soon as those
airports are able to handle them.
Ryanair plans in the first 12 months post war to offer over 5
million seats to/from and within Ukraine, and this will build to
over 10 million seats over a 5 year period. Ryanair, the Govt of
Ukraine, and its main airports, have committed to a rapid rebuild
in Ukraine's aviation, and Ryanair will base up to 30 new Boeing
737 MAX aircraft worth over $3 billion at the 3 main Ukraine
airports giving Ukrainian citizens and visitors access to Europe's
lowest air fares, as Ukraine rebuilds its economy in a post
invasion environment,
Speaking in Kyiv today, Ryanair's Michael O'Leary
said:
"Ryanair was Ukraine's
2nd largest
airline before the unlawful Russian invasion in Feb 2022. Once the
skies over Ukraine have reopened for commercial aviation, Ryanair
will charge back into Ukraine linking the main Ukraine airports
with over 20 EU capitals, and we are working closely with the
Ukrainian Govt to rebuild Ukraine's aviation, industry and its
economy.
The fastest way to rebuild and restore the Ukrainian economy will
be with low fare air travel. Ryanair intends to invest heavily in
Ukraine and lead this aviation recovery by investing up to
$3billion and basing up to 30 new Boeing MAX aircraft at Ukraine's
3 main airports in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa. Having previously also
served Kharkiv and Kherson airports prior to the invasion, Ryanair
will return to serving those airports too, as soon as the
infrastructure has been restored.
Ryanair remains committed to rebuilding and investing in Ukraine.
We currently employ hundreds of Ukrainian pilots, cabin crew and IT
professionals, and we will look to creating thousands of new jobs
in aviation for Ukrainian citizens when Ukraine skies reopen.
Ukraine is a country of 40 million people, many of whom have been
dispersed across Europe over the past year. We look forward to
being able to reunite these families using Ryanair low fare
services to the main Ukrainian airports as soon as it is safe to do
so. Ryanair's low fares services will be critical to the rebuilding
and recovery of the Ukrainian economy, and we will invest heavily
in partnership with the Ukrainian Govt and Ukraine's main airports
as we grow to carry up to 10m passengers p.a. to/from Ukraine once
we are allowed to do so by the European and Ukrainian Regulatory
Authorities."
Summarizing the results of the meeting, Oleksandr Kubrakov, the
Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development
of Ukraine noted:
"Maintaining the operability of the aviation infrastructure and
personnel vocational skills remains vital for us in the conditions
of war. Meanwhile, the resumption of flights will be possible as
soon as the security situation allows. However, we are already
working on solutions and investment plans to enable aircraft to fly
up quickly. I am grateful for the leadership in the recovery of our
aviation industry, for the specific proposals and decisions of
Ryanair, a loyal partner of Ukraine."
Oleksiy Dubrevskyy, CEO of Boryspil Airport said:
"The visit of Ryanair senior management to Boryspil Airport is a
powerful signal that the largest airline in Europe sees huge
potential in the Ukrainian air transport market. We, meanwhile, are
ready to move from strategic planning to specific operational
actions when the airspace becomes open and safe for civil aviation.
I strongly believe that Boryspil Airport will remain the main air
gate for the return of our citizens to Ukraine and will continue to
play a leading role in the recovery of the Ukrainian
economy."
ENDS
For further information
please
contact:
Press
Office
Ryanair
DAC
Tel:
+353-1-9451799
press@ryanair.com
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.
