EU regulators recently gave Ryanair the go-ahead to buy 75% of Laudamotion, in which it intends investing €100 million. As a result, Austria-based Laudamotion confirmed on Wednesday, August 29, that it will acquire nine new Airbus A320 aircraft next summer, doubling the size of its fleet to 18.
According to the Ryanair website, changes and improvements will include:
• A new aircraft livery which reflects Laudamotion's Austrian heritage
• New Vienna offices to accommodate more, high paid, high quality jobs
• Pilot pay increases and basic pay guarantees
• Guaranteed Captain starting basic pay of €90,000 p.a.,
• Up to €180,000 total Capt. pay p.a. including flight pay/allowances
• Guaranteed First Officer starting basic pay of €46,000k p.a.,
• Up to €70k total First Officer pay p.a. including flight pay
• Roll out of a stable winter roster 5 days on, 3 days off (a bank holiday every weekend)
• A new Personnel Director Christian Euler Rolle who starts on 1st Sept 2018.
Commenting on events, and speaking in Vienna, Laudamotion's CEO, Andreas Gruber, said: “Laudamotion now faces the future with great confidence, backed by the enormous financial strength of Ryanair, our new majority shareholder and Europe's largest airline. Laudamotion has already achieved load factors over 90% in its first summer season, thanks to the efforts of over 500 Laudamotion colleagues. These 9 additional 2019 Airbus deliveries ensure that Laudamotion will grow again by at least 20% in 2019 to 5m guests p.a. We look forward to offering even more low fare choices to Austrian and German customers.”
(€1.00 = US$1.17 at time of publication.)