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Ryanair scraps another UK flight just days after axing routes to Denmark and Morocco

MORE flights are being cancelled by Ryanair, affecting Brits heading to Europe.

Earlier this month, Ryanair announced it would scrap its route from London Stansted to Aalborg at the beginning of March.

Passengers boarding a Ryanair plane at Bournemouth Airport.
Alamy
Budget airline Ryanair has scrapped another service from Bournemouth Airport (pictured)[/caption]

The airline made its decision to end its Aalborg services after Denmark announced new aviation taxes.

Ryanair also halted flights from Bournemouth Airport to Agadir – just 10 months after the service first launched.

Another Ryanair service has been scrapped from Bournemouth Airport, with the airline now cancelling flights to Budapest.

In a post on social media, an airport spokesperson said: “Unfortunately the Budapest flight from Bournemouth will no longer run past April 2025 as per the airline’s decision.”

Locals have started a petition in an effort to get the airline to overturn its decision to scrap the routes.

Ryanair still operates several routes from Bournemouth Airport to destinations across Europe, including Faro in Portugal, Rhodes in Greece and Malta.

The recent cancellation of Ryanair flights to and from the UK comes after the airline’s boss, Michael O’Leary, warned hundreds of flights could be scrapped following the autumn budget.

In the autumn budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a £2 increase in Air Passenger Duty (APD) for flights in Europe.

Following the announcement, the Ryanair boss said the airline would look to cut UK capacity by 10 per cent in 2025, which would see five million seats scrapped.

Last month, Ryanair scrapped routes across Spain, axing 800,00 seats across 12 routes.

The airline will axe both domestic and international flights across the country.

Operations will be reduced at Vigo, Santiago de Compostela, Zaragoza, Santander and the airport of Asturias.

The low-cost airline will scrap all of its flights in both Jerez and Valladolid, impacting British holidaymakers as a route operates from London Stansted to Jerez.

Ryanair blamed “excessive fees” at airports in Spain for its move to reduce and axe flights.

Services in France could also be cut, with the airline threatening to scrap flights from 10 airports.

The airline is reviewing its French schedule in response to a proposed tax hike by the French government.

At the end of last year, Jason McGuinness, the airline’s commercial officer, said: “Ryanair is now reviewing its French schedules and expects to cut capacity to/from regional French airports by up to 50 percent from January 2025 if the French government proceeds with its short-sighted plan to triple passenger taxes”.

Aerial view of Stansted Airport.
Alamy
Ryanair is scrapping its service from London Stansted (pictured) to Aalborg in Denmark[/caption]

But it’s not all doom and gloom with Ryanair launching five new flights from London Stansted to destinations across Europe.

The new routes include flights to Reggio Calabria in Italy, which have already launched.

Flights to Clermont-Ferrand in France and Munster in Germany will launch on March 30.

And from April 1, flights to Lubeck, another German city, will operate from London Stansted.

Advice for flying with Ryanair

  • All Ryanair passengers can bring a small personal bag on board but this must fit under the seat in front of you, but it must be no bigger than 40cm x 20cm x 25cm
  • Any over-sized cabin bags will be refused at the boarding gate and put in the hold for a fee
  • Ryanair also charges passengers up to £55 check-in at the airport
  • Anyone who loses their card at the airport will have to pay a £20 reissue fee
  • Book to sit in the front five rows if you want to head off the plane first
  • Extra legroom seats can be found in rows 1 A, B, C or 2 D, E, F as well as row 16 and 17 near the emergency exit
  • The worst seat on Ryanair’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft is also 11A because of its lack of window.

Here are some other new flight routes launching this year.

Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.

Passengers boarding a Ryanair plane.
Getty
The low-cost airline has axed UK flights to Denmark, Morocco and Hungary after slamming the airport fees[/caption]

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Iconic car brand with ‘just 12 months left’ before collapse could be SAVED by major tech firm behind Apple iPhone

AN ICONIC car brand with just 12 months left before collapse could be saved by a major tech firm behind the Apple iPhone.

Foxconn revealed plans to buy a stake in the Japanese car firm after the breakdown of a key merger.

Foxconn Chairman Young Liu speaking to the media.
Reuters
Foxconn Chairman Young Liu speaks to the press about opening talks with Nissan[/caption]
Person walking past a Nissan Motor Corporation sign.
AFP
Nissan has suffered terrible losses over the past few months[/caption]

Nissan is reportedly on the brink of collapse, having planned to cut 9,000 jobs.

But Foxconn looks set to bail it out.

The Taiwanese tech giant announced on Wednesday it would be looking to buy Renault‘s shares in Nissan, in a bid to work together on developing EVs.

Details of the contract will be revealed in a couple of months, reports the Financial Times.

Emphasising a desire for “cooperation” over investment, the firm’s chair Young Liu said: “buying shares is not our main goal.”

“If [taking a stake] is necessary for co-operation we will take it,” he added.

His comments explain Foxconn’s motivation behind investing in Nissan after the Japanese car company‘s partnership with Honda broke down.

Foxconn is best known for manufacturing Apple iPhone products but it is also carving a path in the EV market – designing and manufacturing electric cars for companies.

But whilst it already counts a number of start-ups on its portfolio, Nissan would be its first contract with an international and legacy carmaker.

Failed partnership

Their interest comes days after “merger” talks between Nissan and Honda fell apart.

Last year, Nissan was on the brink of collapse when rival Honda offered an almost £50million lifeline.

The firm had already cut 9,000 jobs across its global operation, while its CEO Makoto Uchida took a 50 per cent pay cut in an economy drive.

In turn, the Japanese firm hoped to create a powerful dual-force against the Chinese brands dominating the industry.

Nissan and Honda would have used each other’s plants to build vehicles and create manufacturing capabilities that would rival Tesla.

But the talks have been complicated by growing differences on both sides, according to reports.

And in little more than a month the partnership failed, reportedly due to Nissan’s “pride” and Honda’s revised terms.

Both of whom declined to be identified because they were not authorised to speak to the media, the Nikkei newspaper said.

Honda reportedly sounded out Nissan about becoming a subsidiary, which was deemed a departure from the spirit of discussions originally framed as a merger of equals.

A Nissan spokesperson said the Nikkei report was not based on information announced by the company and that it aimed to finalise its future direction by mid-February and would announce it at that time.

Nissan is in the middle of a turnaround plan aiming to cut 9,000 employees and 20 per cent of global capacity.

Honda, with a market value nearly five times bigger than Nissan, was increasingly worried about its smaller rival’s progress on the turnaround plan, said the other person.

The tie-up talks coincided with the disruption posed by potential tariffs from newly-elected US President Donald Trump.

Tariffs against Mexico would be more painful for Nissan than for Honda or Toyota, according to analysts.

“Investors may get concerned about Nissan’s future (and) turnaround,” said Morningstar analyst Vincent Sun.

“Nissan also has a larger risk exposure to US-Mexico tariffs than Honda and Toyota.”

Shares in Nissan slid more than 4 per cent before trade was suspended by the Tokyo Stock Exchange following the report.

Shares of Honda continued to trade and finished the day up more than 8 per cent, in a sign of apparent investor relief that the deal had been scrapped.

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Man Utd staff heartbroken as ‘mum to everyone’ and ‘oil in the machine’ part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s latest shocking cuts

MANCHESTER UNITED staff have been left heartbroken after the “mum of everyone” Jackie Kay was dismissed.

Jackie has been a part of the furniture at the club since 1995 and was widely considered as “oil in the machine” by many staff members.

Jackie Kay and Erik ten Hag of Manchester United before a soccer match.
Getty
Jackie Kay has been axed from her job at Manchester United[/caption]
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Ineos CEO and Manchester United co-owner.
PA
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to sack up to 200 employees from the club[/caption]

SunSport exclusively revealed that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to sack up to 200 more employees.

This follows the 250 redundancies out of the 1,150 workforce that were made last July.

The Times have now claimed that Jackie is one of the victims of the latest round of cost-cutting.

Her exit from the club has been described as “brutal’ as she left her role as the head of team operations.

She has also worked as an executive assistant to the former CEO David Gill.

Jackie also worked at Manchester United‘s Carrington training ground for a time in charge of the first-team logistics.

The report has also suggested that she was well-liked by managers and players alike at the club.

She was also labelled as the “oil in the machine” at the Red Devils.

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It is believed that she was informed of the club’s decision last week.

Her exit is a part of the overhaul by Sir Dave Brailsford and Jason Wilcox.

Ashley Young celebrating a Manchester United goal.
Alan Walter - The Times
Ashley Young has previously spoken highly of Jackie Kay[/caption]

However, it is not thought to be linked to the latest spate of redundancies.

It is also claimed that her fellow staff members were “upset” as the news of Jackie’s exit.

Many had claimed that she had “given her life to the club”.

Former Manchester United star Ashley Young has previously highlighted her efforts at the club.

He said: “She’s just brilliant.

“She’s like the mum to everyone.

“If there are any problems or there is anything we need sorting out it’s a case of ‘Jackie can you do this’, ‘Jackie can you help with this’.

“I’m sure there are times when she looks at her phone when it’s ringing and she must think ‘no, I’m not answering’.

“But she’s always there for you.”

Meanwhile, Ratcliffe has suffered a fresh blow as he is being sued by the All Blacks rugby team for “failing to pay sponsorship fees”.

Ratcliffe’s Ineos agreed a six-year deal as an All Blacks’ shirt sponsor in 2021, with the move worth £3.65million each year.

However, New Zealand rugby chiefs have now accused the petrochemical company of attempting to end their sponsorship three years early.

They claim Ineos are yet to pay out any of this year’s fee.

And legal proceedings have now been launched as the All Blacks look for a new sponsor.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's first year at Man Utd

SIR JIM RATCLIFFE’S minority takeover at Manchester United was announced on Christmas Eve in 2023 – and a lot has happened at Old Trafford since…

December 2023 – Man Utd confirm Ratcliffe’s takeover on Christmas Eve, vowing to invest £245m into Old Trafford

January 2024 – Ratcliffe and right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford photographed meeting Erik ten Hag during tour of Carrington 

January 2024 – Omar Berrada poached from Man City as new CEO 

February 2024 – Ratcliffe’s £1billion, 27.7 per cent takeover officially completed 

February 2024 – Former CEO Richard Arnold quits board as Ineos pair John Rees and Rob Nevin added

March 2024 – Ratcliffe bans words “awesome” and “lukewarm cappuccino” in bizarre move

March 2024 – Matt Johnson appointed head of women’s football

March 2024 – Ratcliffe announces plans to build “Wembley of the North” to replace Old Trafford

March 2024 – Man Utd NYSE share price drops to $13.73 on March 21 – down from $20.52 immediately after Ratcliffe takeover in December

April 2024 – Senior staff club credit cards and private cars cancelled 

April 2024 – John Murtough quits as football director 

April 2024 – Jason Wilcox appointed technical director after compensation package agreed with Southampton 

May 2024 – Ratcliffe turns Carrington “toxic” after sending email to employees slamming “disgraceful” lack of cleanliness

May 2024 – Work finally starts on leaking Old Trafford roof

May 2024 – Man Utd finish eighth in Premier League, worst-ever finish 

May 2024 – Ratcliffe gives employees just one week to decide if they want to accept redundancy 

May 2024 – Staff forced to pay for own transport to FA Cup final and only given one ticket

May 2024 – Pre-match party and hotel for senior staff before FA Cup final axed

May 2024 – Man Utd shock rivals Man City to win FA Cup despite suggestions Erik ten Hag will be sacked regardless of result

June 2024 – Man Utd announce £50m plans to upgrade Carrington training ground 

June 2024 – Ratcliffe introduces strict “back to work” policy forcing staff to come into office

June 2024 – Ratcliffe scores own goal with comments about women’s team

July 2024 – Man Utd finally agree deal to bring in Dan Ashworth as sporting director after four months of gardening leave at Newcastle, who received £3m in compensation

July 2024 – Erik ten Hag signs shock new contract extension until 2026

July 2024 – Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake appointed assistant managers, Andreas Georgson first-team coach and Jelle ten Rouwelaar goalkeeper coach. Darren Fletcher’s role changes from technical director to first-team coach. Steve McClaren, Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy depart.

July 2024 – Ex-Chelsea technical director Christopher Vivell joins on short-term basis as interim director of recruitment 

July 2024 – Jean-Claude Blanc added to Man Utd board  

July 2024 – Man Utd cut down number of staff on US pre-season tour to 125

July 2024 – Ratcliffe makes 250 redundancies including popular media man John Allen, historian Cliff Butler and kitman Alex Wylie

August 2024 – Man Utd splash out £199m in the summer transfer window 

August 2024 – Matchday staff lunchboxes scrapped and some forced to eat beside toilet

October 2024 – Man Utd stop paying £2m-a-year ambassador salary to Sir Alex Ferguson

October 2024 – Staff Christmas party cancelled 

October 2024 – “Back to work” policy costing Utd fortune to convert hospitality suites into temporary offices between home matches

October 2024 – Erik ten Hag sacked with club 14th in Premier League table, costing club £15m

November 2024 – Ruben Amorim appointed new Man Utd manager on deal until 2027 after stumping up £10m release clause 

November 2024 – Coach Ruud van Nistelrooy axed by new manager Ruben Amorim 

November 2024 – Man Utd chiefs locked in blame game over summer shambles including Erik ten Hag situation and transfer signings 

November 2024 – Ratcliffe reportedly set to half £40,000 budget paid to Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association

December 2024 – Ratcliffe admits “mediocre” Man Utd “still in last century” 

December 2024 – Fans protest after OAP and children concessions tickets ditched and minimum home ticket cost up to £66

December 2024 – Dan Ashworth sacked after five months as sporting director

December 2024 – £100 staff Christmas bonus ditched for £40 M&S voucher

December 2024 – Ceiling starts leaking during Ruben Amorim’s press conference after 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth

December 2024 – Reports of a mice infestation at Old Trafford as rodent droppings found in food kiosks and plush suites as food hygiene ratings drops to just two stars

December 2024 – SunSport reveals Ratcliffe cuts £40,000 funding donation to Association of Former Manchester United Players charity

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