If you’ve put off your European getaway until the economy gets back on track, think again.

Dublin-based budget airline Ryanair is planning to offer seats on some transatlantic flights for as little as €10 (about $12.50).

On Sunday, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary told Britain’s News of the World tabloid that flights will depart from Dublin airport and London’s Stansted airport and head to a selection of American cities such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston.

However, a different Ryanair spokesman told the International Herald Tribune Sunday that said that the plan could not be confirmed until after the company’s half-yearly results were released Monday. Which it did today.

Slowing consumer demand and high oil prices sparked a decline in the company’s profits of around 31%.

Despite this, O’Leary welcomes the slowdown, saying “We need a recession. … A recession gets rid of crappy loss-making airlines and it means we can buy aircraft more cheaply.”

There is no firm timetable yet on when the flights will commence, nor how many seats will be available at the ultra-low prices.

O’Leary did mention that the cheap-o fares would only be available in economy class, while business class seats would retain their premium pricing structure.

Stay tuned …

Link: MSNBC, International Herald-Tribune, Upgrade: Travel Better

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