Let’s take a look at how Ryanair flies maintenance crew around its network.
Ryanair is well-known for applying a single-type aircraft operating model, with its majority Boeing 737 fleet (and the Airbus A320 belonging to subsidiary Lauda Europa). However, the budget carrier's narrowbody aircraft are also joined by three much smaller Learjet aircraft. You won't get to fly these on routes anytime soon, unfortunately. Ryanair uses its business jets to transport maintenance crew and parts around the network as needed.
Alongside its huge narrowbody fleet currently consisting of 512 aircraft across the Group, low-cost airline Ryanair also has three less-known private jets. These are all Learjet 45 jets from Bombardier. The Learjet 45 is a mid-sized private jet with a typical passenger capacity of nine (plus two crew).
Ryanair acquired the first of the business jets in January 2012. This had already been in service for three years with another operator. It was re-registered in the Isle of Man to leasing company Aviation Leasing (IOM) Ltd. Likewise, the European LCC does not directly own the other two aircraft. They are also leased via the same company. The three aircraft used today are:
These aircraft usually take a Ryanair callsign, but are not painted in the carrier's livery. To distinguish them from Ryanair's larger jets, they sometimes (but not always) take callsigns of FR1, FR2, and FR3.
The Learjets are based at Ryanair's maintenance hubs, including London Stansted. They are regularly used to ship parts and engineering crew around the airline's network to deal with maintenance and technical issues. They could also be used to reposition crew if needed.
This is a valuable asset when operating a tightly packed flight schedule following a low-cost business model. Getting parts out to aircraft quickly is helpful in keeping aircraft operational and minimizing disruption (and associated expenses and compensation). The alternative is to use more local bases or commercial flights to move crew and parts around.
The exact economics of how its use of Learjets lines up with its commercial options is not made public. However, the fact that Ryanair has steadily grown its fleet up to three aircraft suggests it works well.
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All three aircraft are well-used. According to FlightRadar24.com, over the past month alone (August 22), they have made the following number of flights:
As an example of their utilization, consider the movements of its first aircraft M-ABEU on August 25. On that day (a Thursday), the aircraft ran the following schedule:
Four flights a day is a fairly average workload for the Ryanair Learjets. However, the previous day, M-ABEU operated no less than nine flights, taking it back and forth between Dublin, Manchester, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, and London.
We don't often discuss these non-core parts of airline fleets. Ryanair is not the only airline to operate other aircraft types this way. Feel free to discuss more about these Learjets, or other aircraft, in the comments.
Journalist – With almost a decade of experience in the publishing sphere, Justin has built up a deep understanding of the issues facing aviation today. With a keen interest in route development, new aircraft, and loyalty, his extensive travels with airlines such as British Airways and Cathay Pacific has given him profound direct comprehension of industry matters. Based in Hong Kong and Darlington, UK.
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