Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O’Leary has said the airline is not ruling out another bid to takeover Aer Lingus.
The airline has announced a reduction in its services at Dublin Airport, which it says is directly connected to the €10 tourist tax introduced by the Government.
Its Dublin fleet will be reduced to 12 aircraft from 14 and it will operate 850 weekly flights, a reduction of 150 on last year.
Despite a fall in passenger numbers at Irish airports, Ryanair will carry an additional 7m passengers worldwide this year.
Confirming that Ryanair will operate 150 flights less every week at Dublin Airport this winter, Michael O'Leary took the opportunity to make his airline’s plans for Aer Lingus.
A European Court of Justice ruling blocking Ryanair's hostile takeover bid of Aer Lingus in 2007 will not, according to Mr O'Leary, prevent the airline from making a future offer.
He said there are no immediate plans to do so, but he also said Ryanair could secure the future of Aer Lingus.
Mr O'Leary said increased charges and the tourist tax in Ireland are directly responsible for a reduction in air travel here.
He said Ryanair's reduction in flights would result in the indirect loss of around 400 jobs at Dublin Airport.
Ryanair has again criticised the use of Terminal Two.
It said opening the facility at a time when passenger numbers at the airport are at around 17m does not make sense in light of the fact the existing terminal can cater for 30m passengers.
