Ryanair, Europe's largest low fares airline today (15 July) announced substantial capacity reductions at its Dublin base for the coming winter schedule (08/09).

 Compared to winter 2007, when Ryanair operated 22 aircraft, and over 1,350 weekly flights, Ryanair's schedule at Dublin this winter will be reduced to 18 based aircraft and less than 1,200 weekly flights.

 This represents an 18% reduction in based aircraft, and an approximate 12% reduction in weekly flights. Ryanair estimates that its traffic at Dublin Airport this winter will decline by some 500,000 passengers compared to last winter's schedule.

But the best bit of this press release is at the end, a comment by Ryanair's Chief Executive, Michael O'Leary:

"I have little doubt that Ireland and its tourism industry is facing a catastrophe over the coming year.

Traffic growth at Dublin will be ended by this combination of a rapacious Government monopoly, and an inadequate, useless Aviation Regulator.

The sooner both of these are done away with and replaced with competing facilities at Dublin Airport, then the sooner Dublin can return to traffic growth, lower costs and more efficient passenger friendly facilities".