Ryanair CEO O'Leary Says Mobile Phone Launch Not Imminent

LONDON (Dow Jones)--Michael O'Leary, chief executive of Ryanair Holdings PLC (RYAAY), the Irish budget airline, Tuesday said the launch of the company's mobile phone service isn't imminent, despite it holding talks with mobile network operators across Europe.

Ryanair is following the path of easyGroup, the largest shareholder of easyJet PLC (EZJ.LN), which has launched a mobile phone service in the U.K. under the brand name easyMobile. EasyMobile is a virtual mobile operator, in that it leases capacity from mobile network operators to offer services to consumers.

At a press conference following the announcement of Ryanair's full-year results, CEO O'Leary said of the mobile phone launch: "It's a logical extension of what we could do."

He said the company is in talks with three or four mobile phone operators across Europe, but declined to name the companies involved. He added that discussions with those companies aren't at an advanced stage.

Company Web site: Http://www.ryanair.com

-By Nic Fildes, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-20-7842-9264; nicolas.fildes@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires"

Posted to the site on 31st May 2005