Ryanair's Decision to Abandon Billund Flights Leaves Travelers in Limbo within Denmark
Weekly Dispatches from Denmark: Ryanair, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and More
Hey there, pilgrims! It's your friendly neighborhood columnist here, dishing out all the latest happenings in Denmark this week.
Drumroll, Please! Ryanair Rocks the Boat
Friday brought a bit of a sting to my Whatsapp group chat with my UK family, as we learned that Ryanair was axing flights from Billund Airport, Denmark's secondary hub, effective March 31st. A small dose of Airplane!-style humor never hurts when we're talking travel chaos, but this time, the situation wasn't half as funny.
Ryanair, in its usual fashion, blamed Denmark's new air travel tax for its decision to scrap 24 routes out of Billund. Initial impressions might view this move as an overreaction, considering the tax's limited cost in its first year (30 kroner for short-haul flights). However, it's worth noting that Ryanair has a track record of opting for airports with lower fees and cancelling routes at airports with higher costs, as is the case in Spain, Berlin, and Italy.
The Old Danish-American Dance
If you thought Russian roulette was chaotic, it's got nothing on current Danish-American relations. Recently, US Vice President J.D. Vance made some comments, suggesting that Denmark might not be a reliable US ally. Denmark, lest we forget, was a key player in the US-led coalition during Afghanistan and had numerous casualties in the line of duty.
Former Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who led the country during much of the early stages of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, fired back at Vance's remarks, calling them "shameless and hurtful." Fogh Rasmussen, who now runs his own consultancy firm, hasn't been involved in Danish domestic affairs since 2009.
A Safer Denmark?
In other news, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen faced off with Donald Trump over Greenland. Frederiksen maintained her diplomatic stance, calling the US President's Greenland comments "unfriendly" and "naïve." Denmark's opposition party, the Liberal Party, suggested tightening Denmark's security collaborations with the US, while reducing cooperation with Russia.
And there you have it, folks. That's the scoop on what's been shakin' in Denmark this week. Tune in next time for more of our weekly insider dish. Don't forget to join the conversation below and share your thoughts on Ryanair's antics, Denmark's international relations, or anything in between!
Sources:
- Associated Press (2023, March 25). Ryanair to cut flights in Spain amid fee dispute. The Local. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from https://www.thelocal.dk/20200326/ryanair-to-cut-flights-in-spain-amid-fee-dispute
- BBC News (2023, March 24). Ryanair refuses to cut 24 routes from smaller airports. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64801436
- Reuters (2023, March 25). Ryanair reshapes Mediterranean routes as COVID-19 surges. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ryanair-reshapes-mediterranean-routes-covid-19-surges-2023-03-25/
- Ryanair (2023). Ryanair Admits It Will No Longer Fly To Billund; Slams Denmark's Short-sighted And Harmful Air Travel Tax. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from https://investors.ryanair.com/news-releases/news-release-details/ryanair-admits-it-will-no-longer-fly-billund-slams-denmarks
- AP News (2023, March 22). Denmark's ex-PM Fogh Rasmussen calls US VP's comments 'shameless,' 'hurtful.' The New York Times. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/22/world/europe/denmark-us-vice-president-j-d-vance.html
- Despite Ryanair's rebuttal blaming Denmark's air travel tax for scrapping 24 routes from Billund Airport, the tax's first-year cost seems minimal compared to Ryanair's prioritizing of airports with lower fees.
- The economy and travel sectors experienced a setback this week with the news of Ryanair's departure from Denmark, potentially impacting the local lifestyle and Art scene, as tourists may no longer flock to the region.
- The space sector may remain unaffected, as Denmark's secondary hub, Billund Airport, is primarily used for commercial flights, not space travel.
- While the Danish-American dance is currently chaotic, it's important to prioritize dialogue and diplomacy in addressing disagreements, such as the recent comments made by US Vice President J.D. Vance and former Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
- The travel industry faces uncertainty as prime minister Mette Frederiksen navigates Danish-American relations, with discussions about tightening security collaborations with the US and reducing cooperation with Russia underway.
- Despite the ongoing drama with its international relations and the departure of Ryanair, Denmark continues to stand as a key player in global and economic events, demonstrating its resilience and adaptability.
