Ryanair announces plans to double capacity in France

Ryanair plans to double its capacity in France over the next 4 years to around 20m passengers per year following its December decision to recognise unions for the first time, a senior executive said Wednesday. The airline, which currently has no bases in France due to its strict union rules, hopes to set up 1 or 2 bases in the coming 18 months, CCO David O'Brien said. Ultimately Ryanair may operate out of 4 or 5 bases in the country, he said. "We currently have just under 10m passengers in France and I see no reason why that wouldn't be doubled in 3 to 4 years as we open new bases," O'Brien said. Ryanair plans to add around 30 aircraft of capacity to the French market over the next 3 or 4 years, though it is not yet clear how much of that will be based in France or flying into French airports from abroad. <br/>