With Malev gone from its home base, Ryanair was quick to try and fill the void… successfully it would appear.
With its customary aggressive stance and no-nonsense approach to flying, the Irish company is establishing a base at Budapest Ferihegy Airport with five aircraft and 42 destinations. Agreement with the company operating the airport is going to be signed on Friday.
The new, super low prices advertised by Ryanair have generated a record number of bookings. In view of the 9.99 euro price, this is understandable.
The new base and new flights will start operating on 17 February and full capacity will be reached on 26 March. Plans are to carry 2.4 million passengers in the first year.
WizzAir, the Hungarian low-cost company has reason to worry. Ryanair has stated that its aim is to be always 50 % cheaper than WizzAir’s best price.
Hungarians generally are still reeling from the blow of having lost their “national airline”. Those who have been part of the Malev family are mourning understandably, they have lost something that is unlikely to be ever rebuilt. A much uglier scene is being played out on the political level where right and left is once again engaged in a mud-slinging exercise, blaming each other for the demise of the (long loss making) carrier.
The arrival of Ryanair is not being cheered equally by everybody. Clearly, emotions are running high and the aggressive Irish company is not seen as something that brings opportunities but rather as a competitor that will make the establishment of a new Hungarian carrier more difficult.
One thing is sure, the Hungarian aviation scene will never be the same without poor Malev.
