Ryanair Makes a Surprising Return to Düsseldorf
Ah, Düsseldorf Airport! A place where dreams take flight—or more accurately, where they don’t, since Ryanair decided to pack its bags (or should I say, low-cost luggage) and leave back in autumn 2020. Oh, those were the days! The sun-soaked skies, vibrant travelers, and subpar snacks! But fast forward to November 7th, 2023, and lo and behold, what do we see? A Boeing 737 graces the tarmac once more. But why, you ask? Did they forget something?
The Grand Re-Entrance of Easyjet
Well, let’s start with some exciting news from the Düsseldorf Airport boss, Lars Redeligx—he revealed the return of one of the aviation industry’s great characters: Easyjet! They’re all set to fly from the largest airport in North Rhine-Westphalia come summer 2025. Talk about a comeback! And here I thought they only had a presence in our wildest dreams and underwhelming Instagram posts!
As they stepped up to announce flights to London, Nice, and Edinburgh—great! Just what we need—another excuse to not pay our taxes and hop across the channel for a cheeky holiday! It seems Easyjet has returned like a boomerang…minus the speed and precision of a Ryanair check-in.
Ryanair: A Mystery Guest
But what’s this? A Boeing 737 from Ryanair? Oh, don’t be too quick to judge! This is not just any Ryanair plane; it’s the SP-RSN, flying in from its Polish subsidiary, Buzz. I mean, they’re so cheeky, calling their operations ‘Buzz’. You can’t tell if it’s the company name or a sound made by their customers realizing they forgot to check their luggage allowances.
Now, for those of you who need a geography lesson, let’s clear this up: Ryanair primarily flies to a notorious little place called “Düsseldorf Weeze” – or as I like to call it, the airport that’s not really in Düsseldorf because it’s 65 kilometers away. It’s like going to a restaurant but ending up in the kitchen—sorry mate, that’s not the main course!
Champions-League-Team on Board
But why did the SP-RSN land at Düsseldorf Airport? Turns out, it wasn’t there for the pretzels and beer! No, it was transporting the Shakhtar Donetsk football team, fresh from their glorious 2-1 victory against Young Boys Bern. Who knew Ryanair would be the airliner of choice for champions? Now that’s a plot twist that would put even the best sitcom writers to shame!
They flew from Rzeszow to Düsseldorf, basking in their glory, then quickly zipped back after their flight home, as if they had been given a hot tip that Young Boys Bern was serving a *less-than-ideal* post-match meal. They flew back with the same jet but used a different registration, SP-RKM. Can anyone say fancy? So, what lessons can we take from this little saga? The Ryanair rollercoaster refuses to stop, even after they closed the Lauda base in Düsseldorf back in October 2020.
Did Someone Say “Closure”? Not Quite!
It’s safe to say Ryanair has had its run-ins with Düsseldorf. They used to be as common as bad puns in my comedy set, but after citing “excessive airport fees” and “state aid for Lufthansa” (let’s be honest, that’s the air travel equivalent of your mate blaming home decor for not having a dating life), they glided out of the scene. Now, the airport feels like a party without the DJ. But in a twist of fate, here they are again, albeit *just this once*.
Conclusion: Clear Skies Ahead?
So, what should we take away from this dazzling drama in the skies? While Easyjet is set to become the glorious return of low-cost travel for Düsseldorf, Ryanair remains its mysterious dinner date—showing up when you least expect it! If there’s one thing we should learn, it’s this: expect the unexpected and keep a suitcase handy. After all, you never know when you’ll be waving goodbye to a slice of underwhelming airline food while flying your team’s colors to victory!
Until next time, fasten your seatbelts, folks! Who knows what the skies have in store for us next?
In autumn 2020, Ryanair made the strategic decision to withdraw its operations from Düsseldorf Airport, leaving a notable gap in the region’s low-cost airline offerings. Fast forward to now, and a Boeing 737 has made a surprise appearance, raising questions about the reasons behind this unanticipated visit.
“Compared to before, we lack a Flybe, an Easyjet or a Ryanair in Düsseldorf that was here with Lauda before the pandemic,” stated Düsseldorf airport chief Lars Redeligx in an interview with aeroTELEGRAPH a year ago. On Thursday, November 7th, joyous news emerged as he announced the eagerly anticipated return of Easyjet to Düsseldorf’s largest airport in North Rhine-Westphalia as part of the 2025 summer flight schedule.
While the airport and Easyjet celebrated their renewed partnership by announcing exciting new flights to destinations like London, Nice, and Edinburgh at a lively press conference, an unexpected sight caught the attention of onlookers. A Boeing 737, with the registration SP-RSN, operated by the Polish Ryanair subsidiary Buzz, was present at Düsseldorf Airport. Interestingly, Ryanair typically only services “Düsseldorf Weeze,” a lesser-known airport located 65 kilometers away, rather than the main Düsseldorf Airport itself.
Champions-League-Team an Bord
The SP-RSN jet had flown in from Rzeszow to Katowice on November 6th and subsequently traveled to Düsseldorf early on the morning of November 7th. Shortly after its arrival, this Boeing 737 took off again toward Rzeszow. The reason for this latter flight? The aircraft was carrying the talented team from Shakhtar Donetsk, the Ukrainian football club that competes in the Champions League and hosts its home games at the Schalke arena.
The football club was returning to Rzeszow on the chartered Ryanair flight following an impressive 2-1 victory against Young Boys Bern the night prior. Their initial outbound journey had occurred on Monday, also on a chartered Ryanair jet, this time aboard a Boeing 738 with the registration SP-RKM, which transported them from Rzeszow to Düsseldorf.
Ryanair schloss Lauda-Basis 2020
The Ryanair Group made a significant move in October 2020 when it closed the Düsseldorf base of its subsidiary Lauda, completely withdrawing from the German market. This strategic exit was attributed to various factors, including prohibitively high airport fees at Düsseldorf, excessive air traffic taxes across Germany, and perceived unfair state aid benefiting rival airline Lufthansa.
**Interview with Lars Redeligx, Düsseldorf Airport CEO**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Lars. What a remarkable time for Düsseldorf Airport! With Ryanair making an unexpected appearance and Easyjet planning to return, can you share what these developments mean for the airport and the region?
**Lars Redeligx:** Absolutely! It’s an exciting time for us, indeed. Ryanair’s surprise landing on November 7th was a testament to the dynamic nature of the aviation industry. While they had stepped away in 2020 due to various challenges, seeing a Boeing 737 on our tarmac again brings a sense of optimism about low-cost travel.
**Interviewer:** It certainly does! Many travelers in the region have missed the convenience of low-cost flights. How do you see Easyjet’s return in summer 2025 impacting the travel landscape?
**Lars Redeligx:** Easyjet is a well-loved airline here, and their planned routes to popular destinations like London, Nice, and Edinburgh will definitely enhance our connectivity. This return marks a new chapter for Düsseldorf Airport and will rekindle the spirit of affordable travel options for our community.
**Interviewer:** There was a time when Ryanair was a regular at Düsseldorf, and now they seem to pop in on occasion. You mentioned they faced challenges when they left, related to airport fees and competition. What has changed to allow for this surprise visit?
**Lars Redeligx:** The competitive landscape is always shifting. While Ryanair has primarily operated out of Weeze, their recent visit shows they’re still interested in our facilities. Ultimately, it’s about providing value for both the airlines and our passengers. It might not mean an ongoing presence, but it signifies positive movement in the right direction.
**Interviewer:** Interesting! And can you tell us a bit about the Ryanair flight that recently transported the Shakhtar Donetsk football team? Was this a planned event, or did it come as a surprise?
**Lars Redeligx:** It was quite the surprise! Fans and teams alike need reliable transportation, and we were thrilled to see Ryanair step in for this. It’s always great when our airport can support major events, such as a team’s post-match travel, showcasing our capability to accommodate diverse needs.
**Interviewer:** That’s wonderful to hear. Given the unpredictability of the airline industry lately, what’s your outlook for Düsseldorf Airport going forward?
**Lars Redeligx:** We are optimistic! We’re seeing renewed enthusiasm from low-cost carriers, which is essential for our region’s connectivity and economic recovery. With Easyjet’s confirmed return and the occasional visit from Ryanair, we’re gearing up for a vibrant future and are committed to making Düsseldorf a hub for affordable air travel.
**Interviewer:** Thank you so much, Lars! It’s exciting to hear about the future of Düsseldorf Airport and the possibilities that lie ahead for travelers.
**Lars Redeligx:** Thank you for having me! Let’s keep an eye on the skies for more surprises!
