DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ryanair said on Tuesday it was trimming its flying schedule during January to March due to the late delivery of new aircraft from Boeing, which was affected by a strike earlier this year.
The cancellations would reduce Ryanair's passenger traffic by around 100,000 passengers per month during the period and cut overall traffic in the current fiscal year to just under 35 million passengers, the airline said in a statement.
"These schedule changes will not affect Ryanair's profit guidance for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006," Deputy Chief Executive Michael Cawley said.
Shares in the Irish carrier, which has previously forecast a 10 percent rise in net profit for the year, were down 1.3 percent at 7.71 euros in Dublin by 10:55 a.m. versus a 0.6 percent fall for the broader Irish market.
The service cuts come after delivery of new aircraft to the airline's bases at Pisa in Italy and East Midlands was delayed.
Industrial action at Boeing in September and October meant new aircraft ordered by Ryanair were being delivered a month after the scheduled date.
Ryanair (RYA.I: Quote, Profile, Research) had met the shortfall of four aircraft since October by extending the flying programme on a number of older 737-200 series planes due for retirement, it said.
These aircraft would be out of action this month, it said.
Capacity would return to normal in April, it added.
Passengers affected by cancelled flights would be offered alternative flights or full-fare refunds, the statement said.
The cancellations would reduce Ryanair's passenger traffic by around 100,000 passengers per month during the period and cut overall traffic in the current fiscal year to just under 35 million passengers, the airline said in a statement.
"These schedule changes will not affect Ryanair's profit guidance for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006," Deputy Chief Executive Michael Cawley said.
Shares in the Irish carrier, which has previously forecast a 10 percent rise in net profit for the year, were down 1.3 percent at 7.71 euros in Dublin by 10:55 a.m. versus a 0.6 percent fall for the broader Irish market.
The service cuts come after delivery of new aircraft to the airline's bases at Pisa in Italy and East Midlands was delayed.
Industrial action at Boeing in September and October meant new aircraft ordered by Ryanair were being delivered a month after the scheduled date.
Ryanair (RYA.I: Quote, Profile, Research) had met the shortfall of four aircraft since October by extending the flying programme on a number of older 737-200 series planes due for retirement, it said.
These aircraft would be out of action this month, it said.
Capacity would return to normal in April, it added.
Passengers affected by cancelled flights would be offered alternative flights or full-fare refunds, the statement said.
D'altronde FR l'aveva già fatto 1 o 2 anni fa con gli A321..[8)]
