Airlines cut out the frills to fit into the slots

Date: 20/03/1997

THE secret to the success of the no-frills carriers is to be found in the small print.

When Ryanair, the Irish airline, launches its new service between Dublin and Brussels South on 1 May, passengers will not disembark at Zaventem airport but at Charleroi, 55 kilometres away. But who will be complaining when the flexible return fare starts at 96 ecu, compared with state-owned rival Aer Lingus' tariff of nearly 685 ecu for an open ticket?

Similarly, when passengers board Debonair's flight to Düsseldorf, they will actually be getting off at Mönchen-Gladbach. But what is in a name when Debonair's flexible fares are stacked up against the much higher prices charged by rivals British Airways, Air UK and Lufthansa?

By using smaller second-tier airports, the independent airlines are guaranteed a winning combination of suitable slots and cheap landing and handling charges.

Throw in bargain-basement second-hand jets (the Boeing 737 is a favourite of the no-frills operators), cut out travel agents' 7-10&percent; commission by direct selling and heavy promotion - and the newcomers start with an unbeatable cost base.

The new airlines are breathing life into second-tier airports by proving that people are willing to put up with minor inconveniences if they can save money.

Ryanair carried over 100,000 passengers in its first year between Bournemouth, a sedate seaside town in southern England, and Dublin. Its new flights to Paris starting on 1 May will not go anywhere near Charles de Gaulle or Orly, landing at Beauvais instead.

Grateful airports are returning the favour by making life easier for passengers and minimising the disadvantages for the airlines.

Thus Debonair passengers travelling to Mönchen-Gladbach get free return train tickets to Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Cologne and Bonn.

Meanwhile, easyJet flies to Europe from Luton, which will soon be closer to downtown London than the capital's three airports - Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted - when a train line is extended to the terminus.