Ireland-based low-cost airline Ryanair has announced the extension of its partnership with Erasmus Student Network (ESN) for the seventh year.
ESN is a Europe-wide organisation that supports students on exchanges around Europe via the European Union’s Erasmus+ study abroad programme.
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The partnership is designed to enable low-cost travel for students on exchanges through a specialised discount area on the Ryanair website.
Eligible students will receive a 10% flight discount on four one-way flights per year and a free 20kg checked-in bag with every flight booked.
The programme, which has been running since 2017, has been successful, with more than 700,000 bookings since its inception.
Ryanair’s head of public affairs, Matthew Krasa, described the benefits for students as “generous.”
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By GlobalDataKrasa said: “Ryanair is pleased to announce our exclusive partnership with ESN for the seventh year running, promoting student mobility by offering third-level [tertiary level education including university and college] students across Europe a range of exclusive flight offers, including generous discounts and free-of-charge baggage.
“As Ryanair continues to grow and invest in Europe, we are delighted to support the EU flagship Erasmus programme and the incredible opportunities offered to their student members”.
The ESN discount will be available during the academic year from 1 September to 15 June 2024.
According to ESN, financial uncertainty and a lack of financial means have been reported as the biggest obstacles to students participating in overseas education.
ESN president Rita Dias and ESN treasurer Ayberk Yavuz made a joint statement highlighting the importance of the partnership in advancing the ESN’s commitment to making educational mobility more accessible for students across Europe.
Dias and Yavuz said: “ESN recognises the value of the partnership with Ryanair in addressing one of the main barriers faced by students. Numerous students have encountered difficulties when deciding to undertake a foreign exchange programme due to a combination of geographic factors and financial constraints.
“Ensuring that this opportunity is accessible to a wide range of students is essential for the future of Europe. We thank Ryanair for their ongoing commitment to the ESN and for facilitating these opportunities.”
