Ryanair has applied for slots at Paris Roissy-Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports and is willing to cooperate with long-haul traditional airlines, chief executive Michael O'Leary told French financial daily Les Echos today.
Michael O'Leary said the new slots, if approved, would not be at the expense of Beauvais airport, north of Paris.
He added that Ryanair also has projects at Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux and several other French airports.
"For now it is not a matter of opening new bases there but new lines," he was quoted as saying.
Asked about co-operation with traditional airlines, O'Leary said Ryanair wants to develop its presence in major airports to capture new customers and because big airports are inviting Ryanair to come.
"It would be perfectly logical for long-haul airlines like Air France to ask for our help to reduce their losses on short-haul flights," he said, adding that Ryanair flights could feed Air France at Roissy, IAG flights at Gatwick or Lufthansa flights in Berlin.
"We have already had discussions about this topic with IAG, TAP, Aer Lingus, Virgin Atlantic, Norwegian. I think we will be able to announce a few deals next summer," he said.
Meanwhile, Ryanair today announced a number of new senior appointments to its management team.
John Tuite will take over the role of Head of Finance, while Eamonn Hackett will become the new Group Treasurer.
In addition, the new Director of Ancillary Revenue at the airline will be Greg O’Gorman, and Fiona Kearns will assume the role of Director of Customer Service.
