LONDON – Ryanair became the latest European airline to announce big reductions in its winter schedule after coronavirus-related travel restrictions were reimposed across the continent.
Casting the blame on European governments for “mishandling” air travel during the pandemic, the Ireland-based budget airline said Thursday that it will cut around a third of its flight routes this winter.
O'Leary said the cutbacks have been “forced upon us by government mismanagement" of European air travel.
“We continue to actively manage our cost base to be prepared for the inevitable rebound and recovery of short-haul air travel in Europe once an effective COVID-19 vaccine is developed,” O'Leary said.
Others airlines saw their stocks fall too, including British Airways' parent company, International Airlines Group, which was down 2.8%.