Cheapo Euro Airline Ryanair Plans To Offer U.S. Flights Within 5 Years

Flying to Europe may become significantly cheaper in the next five years, after budget airline Ryanair announced announced that its board has approved plans to eventually expand into the U.S. market with its first transatlantic flights.

The Irish Times reports the airline’s board approved plans to launch transatlantic flights to up to 14 U.S. cities over the next five years as part of its growth strategy.

Destinations for the Ireland-based carrier’s transatlantic venture will include trips to New York, Boston, Chicago, Miami from London, Dublin and Berlin, with one-way tickets that could start as low as $20.

“European consumers want lower-cost travel to the USA and the same for Americans coming to Europe. We see it as a logical development in the European market,” the company said in a statement.

Representatives for the company say that the start date of the flights depends on the availability of aircraft, but that they are already in talks with manufacturers to buy more long-haul planes.

The move to include transatlantic flights is a first for Ryanair, which operates much like Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines – offering no-frills accommodations and quick-turnaround flights.

The Irish Times reports that Ryanair is the second European budget airline to announce transatlantic flights. Norwegian Air Shuttle also plans to operate low-cost, long-haul flights to the U.S. and Asia with its new fleet of Dreamliners.

Ryanair’s board approves transatlantic flights [The Irish Times]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.