Ryanair criticised for plan to take on Eurostar with Brussels flights

Ryanair came in for renewed criticism from environmental campaigners yesterday after it launched a route in direct competition with Eurostar. Europe's largest low-cost carrier reopened its Stansted to Brussels service yesterday, taking on the cross-channel train operator, whose passengers generate a tenth as much carbon dioxide per journey as plane travellers.
Greenpeace accused the airline of encouraging "binge flying" by targeting a route where trains have captured two-thirds of the market. "If we don't look at alternative forms of transport, then we will need new runways at Heathrow and Stansted because the capacity is being taken up by these unnecessary flights," said John Sauven, a Greenpeace director.
The move came in the week that green groups lobbied a public inquiry into expanding Stansted and warned that relaxing flight restrictions at Britain's third largest airport would contravene government climate change policy.
Ryanair said it had relaunched the service, which flies to Charleroi, an hour's drive from Brussels, because Eurostar and rival airline fares had become too high. Ryanair is offering return flights to Brussels next weekend at £41, against £99 on Eurostar.
Ryanair admitted this week it was concerned about the impact of the green lobby on the airline market. Howard Millar, its deputy chief executive, said: "I am concerned that there is a continuing media campaign, and the concern is that people might say, 'Maybe I will not fly on holiday, and maybe I will make a different choice'."
BAA, the owner of Stansted, said the Ryanair move did not undermine its case at the inquiry. The airport group is seeking permission to increase the maximum number of passengers flying in and out from 25 million to 35 million a year.
"It shows there is an appetite for flights and therefore a need to expand our airports. If airlines open new routes it's because the demand is there," said a BAA spokesman.
Ryanair and other Stansted airlines have formed an unusual alliance with green campaigners in opposing BAA's expansion plans. The airlines argue that the proposal is too expensive, with higher airport fees translating into rising ticket prices. The Stansted inquiry verdict comes next year and a consultation on a third runway at BAA's prize asset, Heathrow, starts in the autumn.
© The Guardian