Ryanair's next step to becoming a network airline: Air Europa long haul feed & Rome transfer product

On 23-May-2017 Ryanair and Air Europa announced a new commercial partnership allowing Ryanair customers to book Air Europa long haul flights through Ryanair's website. The agreement paves the way to a second stage, when Ryanair passengers will be able to book connecting flights from Madrid to Air Europa's 20 long haul destinations in the Americas.

Ryanair had long been in talks with other possible long haul partners about providing long haul feed to them under interlining arrangements. Talks with Aer Lingus and Norwegian on these lines are continuing, but the Air Europa agreement gives it an opportunity to gain practical experience of what will be another new feature of its continuously evolving business model.

This announcement came only a week after Ryanair launched a connections booking service at Rome Fiumicino. Ryanair is not the first European LCC to connect with other airlines or with itself. However, Europe's biggest airline group by passenger numbers is the only airline to offer these features while retaining an ultra low cost base.