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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Ryanair reduces Stansted flights | Ryanair reduces Stansted flights |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Budget airline Ryanair has announced a reduction in its services at Stansted Airport, blaming higher charges. | |
| Ryanair will reduce the number of aircraft it runs at the airport by 40% in its winter schedule, and will cut the number of flights by 30%, it said. | Ryanair will reduce the number of aircraft it runs at the airport by 40% in its winter schedule, and will cut the number of flights by 30%, it said. |
| But it will operate only four fewer planes than it did last winter. | But it will operate only four fewer planes than it did last winter. |
| The company said that Stansted was one of its most expensive bases, and added that an increase in air passenger duty tax was also a factor in its decision. | The company said that Stansted was one of its most expensive bases, and added that an increase in air passenger duty tax was also a factor in its decision. |
| The airline operated 40 aircraft from Stansted in the summer, but said this would fall to 24 this winter. | The airline operated 40 aircraft from Stansted in the summer, but said this would fall to 24 this winter. |
| Last winter, Ryanair also cut its Stansted fleet to 28 planes from 36 in the summer. | Last winter, Ryanair also cut its Stansted fleet to 28 planes from 36 in the summer. |
| The Irish carrier said it expected to carry 2.5 million fewer passengers between October and March as a result of the latest move. | The Irish carrier said it expected to carry 2.5 million fewer passengers between October and March as a result of the latest move. |
| It said it would switch the 16 aircraft it was withdrawing from Stansted to other European bases. | It said it would switch the 16 aircraft it was withdrawing from Stansted to other European bases. |
| Ryanair also confirmed it had been in talks with European safety regulators about proposals to allow passengers to stand on its flights. | Ryanair also confirmed it had been in talks with European safety regulators about proposals to allow passengers to stand on its flights. |
| Tourist tax | Tourist tax |
| In November, air passenger duty will increase from £10 to £11. | In November, air passenger duty will increase from £10 to £11. |
| Ryanair said it had written to the prime minister, asking him to scrap "this damaging tourist tax", adding that several other European governments had done so in recent months. | Ryanair said it had written to the prime minister, asking him to scrap "this damaging tourist tax", adding that several other European governments had done so in recent months. |
| Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said that UK traffic and tourism was collapsing, although Ryanair continued to "grow traffic rapidly in those countries which welcome tourists instead of taxing them". | Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said that UK traffic and tourism was collapsing, although Ryanair continued to "grow traffic rapidly in those countries which welcome tourists instead of taxing them". |
| "Ryanair's 40% capacity cutback at London Stansted shows just how much Gordon Brown's £10 tourist tax and the BAA monopoly's high airport charges are damaging London and UK tourism and the British economy generally," he added. | "Ryanair's 40% capacity cutback at London Stansted shows just how much Gordon Brown's £10 tourist tax and the BAA monopoly's high airport charges are damaging London and UK tourism and the British economy generally," he added. |
| Mr O'Leary added that Britain's airports would see 10 million fewer passengers this year. |