Ryanair Sees Irish, UK Cuts, Growth Elsewhere

Irish budget airline Ryanair will reduce the number of its aircraft at two Irish bases and will likely do so at airports in the UK as well, chief executive Michael O'Leary said Wednesday.

O'Leary, who blamed taxes levied on air travel in the two countries for the planned moves, said Ryanair was still planning to fly 67 million passengers across its network this year, compared with 58.5 million in the business year to the end of March.

The aircraft taken out of use in Ireland will be switched to countries where traffic is growing, such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece and Spain, O'Leary said.

"There won't be any more growth in the UK... until at least the end of the calendar year," O'Leary told a news conference. "There are likely to be some cuts."

He also foresees more cuts in Ireland, which could leave no Ryanair aircraft permanently based at Shannon, the main gateway to the west of Ireland, he added.