Ryanair has announced it is slashing capacity for September and October because of the increasing return of travel restrictions around Europe.
Budget giant Ryanair will reduce flight capacity by 20% over the two months with services to and from Spain, France, Sweden and Ireland most heavily impacted.
Ryanair had planned to operate 60% of its previously scheduled capacity in September in line with August.
The carrier said it was taking the action after “forward bookings notably weakened over the last 10 days” amid uncertainty over the Covid-infection rates in some EU countries.
The carrier said most of the cuts would involve frequency reductions rather than route closures.
They would be “heavily focused Spain, France and Sweden where rising Covid case rates have led to increased travel restrictions, and Ireland which continues to impose a uniquely restrictive Green List, which imposes 14 day quarantines on visitors from most other EU countries which have lower Covid case rates than Ireland”.
A Ryanair spokesperson said: “These capacity cuts and frequency reductions for September and October are necessary given the recent weakness in forward bookings due to Covid restrictions in a number of EU countries.
“Any passengers affected in September received email notification earlier today advising them of their options.
“Similar communications will be issued to the small number of affected passengers in October later today.”
The spokesperson said: “Over the past two weeks, as a number of EU countries have raised travel restrictions, forward bookings especially for business travel into September and October have been negatively affected and it makes sense to reduce frequencies so that we tailor capacity to demand over the next two months.”
The Ryanair spokesperson added: “Proper testing at airports and effective tracing – as is being conducted in Germany and Italy – is the only realistic and proportionate method of supervising safe intra-EU air travel while effectively limiting the spread of the Covid-19 virus.”
Which? Travel editor Rory Boland said: “With Ryanair reducing its flight schedule and easyJet withdrawing from a number of airports popular with holidaymakers, it’s clear the coronavirus outbreak continues to pose a huge threat to thousands of upcoming flights, and to the future of the travel sector more generally.
“EasyJet has committed to contacting anyone whose flight is affected with advice on their options, which include re-routing or receiving a full refund.
“Ryanair must follow suit, and ensure that if it is cancelling flights or intending to move the dates or departure airports for any affected flights, that it is communicating any changes well enough in advance, and letting customers know when they are entitled to a full refund.
“The UK’s travel sector has been battered by the restrictions placed on international travel through this crisis. The government must step in with support for the industry where appropriate, to ensure the future of international travel and to enable operators to fulfil their legal obligations to customers on refunds for cancellations.”