Ryanair CEO says may help set up long-haul carrier

LONDON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Ryanair (RYA.I: ) Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said on Tuesday he may help create a sister company to launch a long-haul, low-cost airline, if cheap aircraft became available next year. ), Europe's biggest low-cost carrier, would not invest in the new airline but Ryanair shareholders including himself may be invited to participate, O'Leary said. "If aircraft fleet prices collapse, it is a real possibility," O'Leary told reporters in London. "There may be the opportunity to buy a fleet of long-haul aircraft cheaply next year," he said, adding that a collapse of a carrier may create the opportunity for such an order, which would then take a further 18 months to deliver. Dozen of airlines have gone bankrupt worldwide, hit by a combination of high... [read full story]