European budget carrier Ryanair is offering business-class tickets in an attempt to woo companies and governments during penny-pinching times.
Marketed under the slogan "Your boss will approve," the new ticket reverses some of the airline's more reviled policies for fee-dazzled travelers. The Dublin-based company, long Europe's fastest-growing airline with a sell-it-cheap, stack-'em-high philosophy, says it hopes to capture three-fourths of all business travel between Britain and Ireland, its two biggest markets.
The move reflects not just the airline's desire to leverage its huge presence in Europe, but also a growing interest for low-cost executive travel.
Most European governments are still cutting down on debt while many companies remain wary of spending as the eurozone recovery has stalled. Ryanair says more than a quarter of its passengers already are business travelers.
The new ticket will be a low-budget version of traditional business class. It will allow a checked-in bag weighing up to 20 kilograms (44 pounds), which normally costs 25 euros to 75 euros (USD 33 to USD 99); preferential boarding and, at some airports, fast-track security lines; and most importantly, free changes to flights including on the day of travel.
The latter policy seeks to solve one of the great headaches of travel that made Ryanair off-limits for many business travelers: the risk of eating tickets and punitive penalties for altering anything.
Allied to the new approach, Ryanair increasingly is cutting deals to open services at Europe's business airports, most notably the European Union hub of Brussels' Zaventum.
Currently, Ryanair tends to fly to smaller airports that are often distant from the cities it serves and not practical for time-pressed executives or civil servants.
Ryanair's product looks extremely competitive versus Aer Lingus, British Airways and continental carriers that typically charge more than 150 euros (USD 200) each way for flexible economy-class tickets. Ryanair says its business tickets will cost as little as 69 euros (USD 91).
Today's announcement sent Ryanair shares 2.8 percent higher to 7.13 euros (USD 9.40) on the Irish Stock Exchange.
