RYANAIR is planning to unveil details of seven new routes from the UK tomorrow.
The European network expansion is expected to include new summer Stansted flights to Germany, France, Italy and Scandinavia.
Speaking at the Business Travel 2000 exhibition, sales and marketing director Tim Jeans declined to say which cities Ryanair would start serving. Jeans said the growth is possible through the addition of five new aircraft into the Ryanair fleet in May and June.
The Irish carrier predicts it will carry 7m passengers this year compared to 6m in 1999.
Speaking at the announcement of a jump in third-quarter profits to £9.7m from £7.2m, chief executive Michael O’Leary said: “British Airways’ strategy of carrying fewer non-premium passengers, reducing capacity on loss-making short-haul routes and letting travel agents introduce service fees helps our growth.”
O’Leary, who will announce the new routes in London, added his airline will aggressively promote its Ryanair.com Web site for direct bookings. “Ryanair.com’s potential impact on sales and distribution costs is huge. During our latest seat sale almost 50% of bookings were made on the site, generating substantial savings in agent commissions and reservation fees,” he said.