Why Ryanair's Long-Haul Ambitions Hinge On Airport Slots, Not Aircraft Economics

Ryanair's plans to venture into long-haul flights are being severely constrained by a lack of access to airport slots at major international hubs, rather than any economic inefficiencies in aircraft usage. The key issue is that long-haul flights require takeoff and landing slots at busy airports, which are highly competitive and limited. This bottleneck is proving more challenging than the aircraft economics Ryanair typically navigates. As a result, the airline's long-haul ambitions may face significant delays, highlighting the crucial role of airport infrastructure in the aviation industry's evolution.