Ryanair To Cancel 40-50 Flights Per Day For Six Weeks

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41291483

"Ryanair is to cancel 40 to 50 flights every day for the next six weeks, in a bid to improve punctuality of flights"

Perhaps I am being a bit thick here but how is cancelling 40-50 flights per day for six weeks going to improve punctuality ?

Surely cancelling a flight will have the effect of reducing punctuality down to 0% ?

[emeritus]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Travel/Question1570761.html

[mikey4444]

Thanks emeritus....I have been out all day and didn't notice the earlier thread.

[Hymie]

Before I learnt to drive – this was a regular tactic used by the bus company I used to get to work, cutting the service claiming it would improve punctuality. But there may be some merit in Ryanair’s claim, due to the way these low cost carriers operate.

Their aircraft turnaround times only allow for a minimal delay to maintain schedule. Each aircrafts’ daily schedule might entail 4 return flights (each not much longer than an hour each way) – any delay in one flight, will result in the remaining days flights being similarly delayed. Cutting flight numbers and building in additional turnaround times should improve punctuality (all other things being equal).