SWOT and Financial Analysis and Exit Strategy in Ryanair - Capstone Project Example

Ryanair was the first budget airline in Europe that was modeled after the southwest carrier of the US. It is said that O'Leary, Ryanair’s CEO, made a pilgrimage together with several other airline business executives to Dallas in the 1990’s to meet southwest’s founder Herb Kelleher. The Ryanair case is one of great interest as far as strategic management is concerned and it has a lot to do with the economic, organizational, and human context of strategy. It is a case that best illustrates a strategy based on the best allocation of resources assets and competencies, adding value to customers and delivery of considerable strategic gain.

The Ryanair case also sheds light on the difficulties and obstacles that may come in the way of attaining and upholding such gain against a backdrop of the European airline industry. It is a case that brings together important elements in modern thinking on strategy and outlines issues of managing cost, prices, and the expectations of customers. Ryanair’s story has been outstanding in Europe’s entrepreneurial sector for many years now. Besides, Ryanair has also developed an opinionated way of communication that makes use of advertising and media in making public its transformation of the air industry.

Ryanair has grown to become one of the world’s most successful airlines even though it’s based in Europe alone. It is ranked Number 11 in the world in terms of profits and number 2 in terms of operation. CEO Michael O'Leary holds a net worth of 636 million pounds, which is a good reward. Ryanair is considered a success because unlike other airlines, it managed to bring flying within the people’s reach. Ryanair was begun by Tony Ryan, a former executive of Aer Lingus who amassed his wealth through the brokerage of aircraft in 1985.

It started with a one 15 seat aircraft plying between Waterford Dublin and London and a year later acquired a license to fly from Dublin to London though not without opposition at first from Aer Lingus which held a monopoly of the route and which led to a bitter competitive rivalry between the two airlines for many years.