Ryanair clashes with DAA over reduced mobility deal

Ryanair and Dublin Airport operator DAA have clashed over a contract to aid people with reduced mobility. The airline claims that DAA awarded a €33 million three-year contract to existing supplier OCS to aid people with reduced mobility to get through the airport to their flights without tendering it or consulting airlines. However, DAA described Ryanair’s claims as “false”, and pointed out that OCS won a seven-year deal to provide the service, an initial five years with the option for two more, beginning in 2019.

The airport company said that OCS was moving into year six and seven of the contract, with a one-year extension to allow for pandemic losses.

Ryanair accused DAA of being unable to produce a single alternative quote for the service before awarding OCS a “lucrative” three-year contract. The airport company argued that the original tendering process was robust, and maintained that Ryanair was one of three airlines which evaluated the bid.

Separately, it has emerged that Ryanair plans to expand its Dublin headquarters as growing travel demand prompts the airline to bolster operations. The carrier plans to build a 169sq m extension to its Dublin operations room at Swords in Co Dublin, according to a planning application sent to Fingal County Council. Ryanair said the extra space would be used to expand its operations centre, where the airline monitors and co-ordinates its daily flying schedule.

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The group aims to expand passenger numbers to 300 million and its fleet to 800 planes by the middle of the next decade, targeting about 30 per cent of market share in Europe. The carrier has forecast up to €2.05 billion in profit for the current fiscal year and plans to pay a €400 million dividend.

Ryanair has rebounded quickly after the pandemic, and announced in May it had ordered up to 300 of Boeing’s 737 Max 10 aircraft to drive its expansion. – Additional reporting: Bloomberg