Ryanair flew for years with the idea of starting transatlantic flights, but
the budget company is now resolute: that is not going to happen. The Irish
airline wants to go expand further into Eastern Europe, the Middle East and
North Africa.
 
Ryanair has ordered 135 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, which have sufficient
flight range to fly from Western Europe to the American East coast, but the
commpany will not use them for that.
 
"We have no plan to fly long haul," said marketing director Kenny Jacobs to
the Irish Independent. "We are now expanding our network by flying to places
like Ukraine, Jordan and Israel."
 
In 2015, the Financial Times reported that Ryanair had decided to start
trans-Atlantic flights in four to five years, and CEO Michael O'Leary also
regularly indicated his interest. That could have been a publicity stunt.
 
It is also possible that Ryanair has been deterred by the results of low-cost
competitors who have entered the transatlantic market, such as Norwegian.
Although Norwegian offers more and more intercontinental flights, it is not
yet possible to make a profit.

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