The history of low-cost airlines dates backs almost 25 years when the very first carrier that offered lower prices was set up. Nowadays, many entrepreneurs follow this example and establish airlines that are offering cheap flights. However, not everyone succeeded. In Polish airports we may find about 19 various low-cost carriers such as: Germanwings, Centralwings, SkyEurope, EasyJet, Ryanair or Wizzair. The most popular low-cost airline is now Ryanair.
The beginnings of the Ryanair company were not very successful. At first, it made a loss and it might have seem that the money from leasing planes that Tony Ryan invested as a capital would be wasted. Fortunately, however, when a man named O’Leary joined the company and became Tony’s right hand, the firm started to make a profit. The profits then were constantly increasing but in June 2009 after settling accounts, Ryanair made a loss again. This was the result of higher fuel price that badly affected everyone, not only airlines.
The first connection was the one between Waterford and London and was opened in 1985. In the same year the company carried its first five thousand passengers. In 1993 Ryanair staff was a group consisting of 500 people and the carrier reached a million passengers. In 2007 this number increased to 40 million. Nowadays, low-cost airlines have developed rapidly in Europe but Ryanair is still one of the best-developed giants of low-cost airline industry in Europe. It is worth mentioning that the advertisements of this company are special and unique. They show European stereotypes of certain nations and often ridicule political situations of a given time in a given European country. Thanks to such advertisements Ryanair gains popularity as they arouse much emotion and are easy to remember. In 2007 the most beautiful girls working in the company took part in a nude photo shoot for a calendar for the year 2008. Beautiful bodies, amazing pictures, plenty of copies sold and the income from sales was donated by Ryanair to charity. The next year the event was repeated and Ryanair published another calendar. Interesting is the fact that the company’s feet consists of 200 airplanes and they are all Boeing model 737-800. According to analysts, Ryanair is one of the most environmentally-friendly carriers and since its beginnings it substantially reduced the fuel consumption.
So, it seems that low-cost airlines not only carry passengers. They offer many advantages but have some drawbacks as well. Their major advantage is cheap tickets but disadvantage is the necessity to pay extra for any additional services on board or high costs of extra baggage exceeding the allowance stipulated in the contract. Low-cost airlines are a good alternative for those who can’t afford expensive and luxurious travel with traditional regular airlines.