Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary says all flights will be grounded for at least two months

Ryanair will today ground its fleet of planes for at least two months, chief executive Michael O’Leary has announced.

In a statement to all Ryanair group customers, the airline boss said the coronavirus pandemic had ‘transformed the lives of people all over Europe and the world’.

Countries are rapidly sealing their borders and enforcing flight freezes to stem the spread of the infection, meaning airlines are drastically paring back their routes.

This is while other airlines such as easyJet said they would be grounding their fleets today. 

So far in the UK there have been 422 deaths caused by the virus and 8,077 confirmed cases. Ryanair today said they offered governments rescue flights to help stranded passengers in affected areas. 

But while Ryanair’s commercial flights have been axed, Mr O’Leary said he has made his craft available to governments for repatriation of stranded citizens and the movement of emergency medical supplies.

Customers whose flights have been cancelled were told they would be contacted within the fortnight to outline their options. 

His message came amid crisis talks between ministers and the aviation sector, which has been particularly hurt by the global outbreak. 

The Ryanair boss said: ‘As a group of airlines, we expect most of our flights to be grounded from Tuesday, March 24 onwards.

‘We have offered our aircraft to all EU governments, both for rescue flights and to operate essential flights for the movement of vital medicines, personal protective equipment, and, if necessary, emergency food supplies. 

He added: ‘We do not expect to operate flights during the months of April and May at this time, but this will clearly depend upon government advice, and we will in all cases comply with these instructions.’ 

Mr O’Leary was, however, optimistic that the company would weather the economic storm and emerge from the health crisis.

He said: ‘While the immediate future is uncertain, it is important to remember that, like all pandemics, the crisis will pass.’

This is while easyJet also announced that it would be running a minimal schedule of flights and that most aircrafts would be grounded.

It also said it was ‘committed’ to getting people home adding: ‘Where flights are cancelled – and where local authorities allow – we will operate rescue flights to repatriate customers.’

The company highlighted it had launched its winter schedule earlier than usual in order to give people more choices later on in the year 

‘We know that customers with a booking in the coming weeks may be unsure about travelling at the moment, so they can re-book to another flight later in the year without paying any change fees. ‘ 

British Airways advised customers travelling in the next 72 hours to contact them and said they had ‘enhanced cleaning’ measures on their aircrafts. 

While allowing extra flexibility for passengers it did not suggest that it would be halting the majority or its fleet, like Ryanair and easyJet have done.

It said: ‘To allow greater flexibility you can change the destination, date of travel, or both without being charged a change fee, on all new bookings made from Tuesday 3 March to Sunday 31 May 2020, or receive a voucher for any existing bookings that depart up to Sunday 31 May 2020’.

British Airways also highlighted the importance of cleanliness and said disinfectant fluids are being using on every aircraft   

‘All our aircraft are fitted with HEPA filters which remove particulate and bacterial contamination and provide passengers with clean air. They provide the same level of air filtration as hospital operating theatres’.