Ryanair to start transatlantic services; offer Europe-US flights for as little as £10

Budget carrier Ryanair plans to operate transatlantic flights between key European cities and the US with one-way tickets costing from as little as £10 (about $14.7 at current exchange rate)

Ryanair's board has approved plans to develop a transatlantic service between Europe and America service for budget passengers.

This, according to the airline, is part of an aggressive growth strategy to connect airports such as London Stansted and Berlin with New York, Boston and Miami.

The airline first mooted the idea of offering transatlantic flights back in 2008 and board approval comes after the airline has invested 18 months in cleaning up its image and improving customer service.

However, earlier reports quoting the airlines chief executive Michael O'Leary had said, ''Not every seat will be €10 of course; there will also need to be a very high number of business or premium seats.''

He also said that the airline had long been looking at long-haul flight plans, but was held back by lack of aircraft availability which, he said, could take up to five years.

''European consumers want lower-cost travel to the USA and the same for Americans coming to Europe," the company said in a statement.

"We see it as a logical development in the European market."

Ryanair under O'Leary has recently embarked on an image improvement mission. The airline also slashed the cost of bringing extra baggage on board and introduced allocated seating to compete with more conventional rivals.