BloombergRyanair Holdings PLC said demand for air travel within Europe could receive an unlikely boost if the coronavirus epidemic in China persists, prompting people to holiday closer to home. Trends from 2003, when travelers avoided Asia after the SARS outbreak, suggest consumers could begin to alter their travel habits, Ryanair chief financial officer Neil Sorahan said in an interview yesterday. As of yesterday Thailand had 19 confirmed cases, Fitch said. For Ryanair, a surge in European travel would bolster margins as it grapples with the grounding of Boeing Co’s 737 MAX jet. Bookings are 1 percent up on last year, with planes 96 percent full, so an increase in regional travel would push up fares.

Source: Taipei Times February 03, 2020 15:56 UTC