Ryanair Launches Cruise Division to Offset Dublin Airport Growth Concerns

Ryanair has expanded into shipping by launching its own cruise division.

Europe’s largest airline is looking at the move in a bid to offset any prospect of lost business due to the current annual cap on passenger numbers using Dublin Airport.

Ryanair is understood to have completed its first vessel and is now expected to apply for a ferry licence, at the very beginning of April, for Ireland-UK and Ireland-Spain routes, where it directly competes with the likes of Irish Ferries, Brittany Ferries and Stena Line on popular consumer routes.

It is holding talks over berths with both Dublin Port and Dún Laoghaire Harbour, as well as Bremore Ireland Port in Co Donegal.

Ryanair has, according to an informed industry source, “broken apart” a number of planes and is using the pieces to make its very own fleet of ships.