Ryanair plans first Frankfurt flights in challenge to Lufthansa

Ryanair plans to start flights from Frankfurt Airport, marking its first foray into one of Europe’s top aviation hubs and laying down a challenge to Lufthansa, which has its main base there. Discount giant Ryanair will unveil the strategy at a joint press conference with airport operator Fraport on Wednesday, according to invitations sent to the media. Neither company would provide details in advance of the event. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has said he wants to boost the Dublin-based airline’s market share in Germany and serve more major airports across Europe as the carrier seeks to add business travellers. At the same time, he has said that entering Frankfurt, London Heathrow or Paris Charles de Gaulle, the home hubs for the region’s top three network carriers, would be a stretch. O’Leary has been reviewing his strategy in the wake of Britain’s June 23 vote to quit the European Union, downgrading expansion plans for its biggest market and looking more to countries on the mainland for growth. Germany is already gaining flights, with Ryanair opening a new base this week in Hamburg, where it has stationed two planes and added seven routes to take its total to 14. Ryanair is likely to open the new base with two aircraft, increasing the figure to eight if demand matches expectations, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported, adding that initial flights will serve Palma de Mallorca and Alicante in Spain.<br/>