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Ryanair slashes German services, complains about taxes, fees

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Ryanair had complained to the German government about taxes and airport fees in August, now it's announcing major cutbacks for 2025 © Brian Lawless/picture alliance
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Low-cost airline Ryanair is stopping all flights to three minor German airports and also cutting its operations in Hamburg by more than half. It blamed the government in Berlin for high taxes and airport fees.

Irish low-cost airline Ryanair on Thursday announced major cutbacks to its services in Germany for the summer of 2025.

The airline will no longer fly to airports in Dortmund, Dresden and Leipzig at all. In Hamburg, summer flight totals will be reduced by 60% compared to the previous year. And, as already announced in August, 20% fewer flights will come and go from Berlin as well.

The company estimated that these cuts would amount to 1.8 million fewer seats for passengers on its planes in 2022, 22 fewer flight routes, and an overall dip of 12% capacity in Germany.

Ryanair said it was cutting 60% of services at its base in Hamburg, as well as halting all flights to Dortmund, Dresden and Leipzig
© Christopher Tamcke/picture alliance

 

How did Ryanair explain the move?

Eddie Wilson, the CEO of Ryanair DAC, the group’s main and oldest airline, attributed the decision to costs that he said were too high in Germany, and to Berlin’s support of the “high-price monopoly” enjoyed by flag carrier Lufthansa.

“Germany has only recovered 82% of its air traffic totals from before COVID, making it by far the worst performer in the European air travel market,” Wilson said.

“As a result of these high state taxes and fees (the highest in Europe) as well as the high-price monopoly of Lufthansa, German citizens and visitors are now paying the highest flight prices in Europe,” Wilson said.

Ryanair often criticizes flag carriers like Lufthansa, which it noted in Thursday’s press release “was saved with €6 billion” during the COVID pandemic by the German government, and the state support several of them received during the pandemic.

Ryanair said it did not anticipate job losses at the company, despite the reduced flight plan, though it did predict knock-on effects for other workers and industries like taxi drivers and the hospitality sector.

As recently as 2019, when this picture was taken, Ryanair was trying to expand its offering at airports like Dresden’s
© Arvid Müller/picture alliance

 

Ryanair had complained about the situation, and threatened to vote with its feet, to German Transport Minister Volker Wissing in August.

The airline drives a notoriously hard bargain over extra costs like airport transit fees, seeking to keep operating costs low to go with its ticket prices, which is why its planes are often harder to find at the busiest European airports that tend to charge more.

WIlson said that Ryanair had presented a “7-year growth plan” to the German government in August, but had heard nothing back from the federal or state governments.

“The refusal to promote growth at German airports is shortsighted, because Ryanair is prepared to expand considerably in Germany,” Wilson said. “But the rising air travel tax, security and airport fees are leading to these capacities being relocated to other EU states.”

The air travel tax was increased by the German government in May, it lies between roughly €15 and €70 per ticket, primarily depending on how long-distance a flight is, with airlines typically passing costs on to consumers.

German BDF says Ryanair reduction no surprise

Germany’s BDF federation of airlines has also complained that airport costs in the country are among the highest in Europe.

It responded on Thursday by saying Ryanair’s move was both predictable, and potentially even the first of many such headlines.

“This was a withdrawal with advanced warning, and it shows the negative dynamic that Germany currently finds itself in as an air travel location,” BDF director Michael Engel said.

The BDF said it expected more bad news of this type, particularly regarding Hamburg. At that hub, the operator is planning to raise its fees in 2025.

Another industry lobby group, the ADV in Berlin, warned in a statement that Ryanair’s move demonstrated how “we are no longer competitive.”

msh/wmr (AFP, dpa, Reuters)

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“I generate about 15% of the electricity used in Nigeria” – Davido’s dad, Adedeji Adeleke, reveals as he announces he is building the largest thermal power plant in the country, valued at $2 billion and set to launch in January 2025.

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Adedeji Adeleke, Davido’s father, is indeed a powerhouse in Nigeria’s business scene. As the CEO of Pacific Holdings Limited, he’s been making waves in various industries.

Now David’s father is taking on the energy sector with an impressive project – building the largest thermal power plant in Nigeria, valued at $2 billion and set to launch in January 2025.

Ekwutosblog gathered that his  new venture will reportedly generate about 15% of the electricity used in Nigeria, significantly contributing to the country’s power needs.

Given Adedeji Adeleke’s track record as a successful entrepreneur, it’s no surprise he’s taking on this ambitious project.

Some of Nigeria’s current top thermal power plants include:

•⁠ ⁠_Egbin Power Station_: a 1,320MW thermal power project located in Lagos
•⁠ ⁠_Alaoji Power Station_: a 1,074MW thermal power project located in Abia
•⁠ ⁠_Afam Power Station I-V_: a 987.20MW thermal project located in Rivers
•⁠ ⁠_Ughelli Delta Power Plant_: a 964.68MW thermal project located in Delta
•⁠ ⁠_Olorunsogo II Power Plant_: a 750MW thermal project located in Ogun

Adedeji Adeleke’s new power plant will likely join this list, further solidifying his impact on Nigeria’s energy landscape.

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Nigeria’s foreign reserves rose to $39bn in October – Cardoso

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Olayemi Cardoso, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), announced a notable increase in the country’s foreign reserves, which rose by 12.74% to $39.12 billion as of October 11, 2024.

Ekwutosblog reports that Cardoso shared this development during his appearance before the House of Representatives Committee on Banking Regulation on Tuesday, October 15.

Cardoso revealed that Nigeria’s foreign reserves stood at $34.70 billion at the end of June 2024, reflecting significant growth in a few months. This comes after reserves fell to $32.29 billion on April 15, 2024, the lowest level in over six years.

“The reserves have grown significantly, with remittance flows now contributing 9.4% to total external reserves,” Cardoso explained. He attributed the rise in reserves to foreign capital inflows, crude oil-related taxes, and other third-party receipts.

“In the second quarter of 2024, we maintained a current account surplus and observed substantial improvements in our trade balance,” he added.

Cardoso emphasized the resilience of Nigeria’s external reserves, noting they can finance over 12 months of imports for goods and services or 15 months for goods alone—far exceeding the international benchmark of 30 months, ensuring a robust buffer against external economic shocks.

In discussing reforms in the foreign exchange market, the CBN governor pointed to the unification of exchange rate windows under the “willing buyer, willing seller” model. This strategy was designed to enhance foreign exchange liquidity and improve market transparency and stability.

“This reform has improved transparency, reduced market distortions, and streamlined foreign exchange allocation. The bank resumed FX sales at the NAFEX and Bureau De Change (BDC) segments, driven by increased supply from foreign portfolio investors,” Cardoso said.

The narrowing of exchange rate disparities between the NAFEX and BDC segments has also led to a convergence of rates, boosting market confidence and enabling the CBN to clear existing FX backlogs.

Cardoso further stated, “The settlement of all legitimate backlogs of outstanding FX obligations by the bank has significantly improved Nigeria’s credibility and ratings across the global financial market, helping to boost investor confidence and enhance liquidity in the foreign exchange market.”

“With improved investor confidence, foreign investments have increased, as evidenced by a significant rise in capital importation by 65.56% to $6.49 billion between January and July 2024, compared to $3.92 billion in the corresponding period of 2023.”

Cardoso concluded by noting the broader impacts of these actions: “Collectively, these actions have contributed significantly to the stability of the financial system.”

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How to Construct a Poultry House

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Commercial chicken farming demands expertise, understanding, and unwavering commitment for success. Getting your poultry housing right is crucial for laying a solid foundation for your venture. Here’s a handy checklist to guide you through poultry house construction:

Provide Comfort: Ensure your poultry house offers a comfortable environment shielding birds from weather extremities like rain, wind, and direct sunlight.

Spaciousness: Allocate adequate space based on stocking density:

Layers: 1m² for 6 birds
Broilers: 1m² for 11 birds

Ventilation: Opt for an open-sided house with east-west orientation to allow natural airflow. Avoid direct sunlight exposure.

Structure: Construct a rectangular-shaped house with a wall not exceeding three feet in height on the longer side. Opt for materials like stones, iron sheets, or bricks for durability.

Mesh Matters: Use a small gauge chicken wire mesh to prevent entry of wild birds, dogs, and rodents. Consider a plastic-coated mesh for longevity.

Roofing: Choose a reflective surface for the roof and ensure proper pitch for ventilation. Maintain adequate gap between birds and roof to prevent heat stress.

Flooring: floors should be ideal for easy cleaning and disinfection.

Hygiene Measures: Install a foot-bath at the entrance and clear vegetation around the pen to deter rodents. Keep the feed store separate to minimize rodent attraction.

Isolation: Construct the house in isolated areas to minimize contamination risks.

Ventilation Management: Optimal ventilation is crucial for heat and moisture regulation, oxygen supply, and air quality improvement. Open curtains for airflow during warm weather and close them for warmth during cold spells.

Safety: Fence the area and keep doors locked to prevent entry of stray animals and visitors.

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