Robin Blandford [ ByteSurgery.com - Digital Media Engineering ]

26/08/07 The School of Ryanair

LONDON, UK - Aoife bought me the Michael O’Leary biography. I’m doing this post as I read 100 pages of it on a train to Cambridge today. I depend on Ryanair to get me back from London to Dublin every other weekend. Ryanair have made it possible for me to leave work on a Friday at 16:00 and be drinking a Guinness in my local in Howth by 21:10 and on Monday I’m on the first flight to London at 06:25 and I’m at my desk by 09:10. It’s just great.

A year ago, I would have paid the extra for Aerlingus to be ‘on time’, ‘more comfortable’ and ‘friendlier’ but now Ryanair have re-educated me on the low-fare model I wouldn’t second guess it. With each flight I get a lesson and now I’m becoming a pro. I know when to start queuing, where to sit in the terminal, what to order, where to sit, and have it down to a tee. On the last 30 flights I have never sat further back than row 3 - and never paid for priority boarding.

The book has been a brilliant insight into the mind of O’Leary and one of the most profitable business models of our times. I am now in awe of Ryanair, the battles they fought, and the way they won them. I’m a low-fares convert through & through. Ryanair - when will you open up the Atlantic to me?

Something else that struck me as a realisation, the best business ideas need to use technology to break barriers & lower costs rather than the technology itself being the business. This has given me something I need to re-think.

Thanks for the book Aoife!

Tags: dublin, flights, fly, flying, London, ryanair, uk

1 Comment

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30/08/07 UK traveller

It’s an awesome book, and Ryanair’s success is understandable. O’Leary is a ruthless businessman, who cares about nothing but Ryanair’s profitability.

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