In an abrupt about-face, the Ryanair board on Thursday denied approving a plan to offer transatlantic services with widebody aircraft within four to five years.

“In the light of recent press coverage, the Board of Ryanair Holdings Plc wishes to clarify that it has not considered or approved any transatlantic project and does not intend to do so,” it said in a statement that appears on its website’s investors’ page.

The Irish company did not explain its direct contradiction of a statement issued by its press department on Monday that specifically declared the existence of active talks with airframe manufacturers. “The board of Ryanair, like [that of] any PLC, [has] approved the business plans for future growth, including transatlantic,” it said on March 16. “We are talking to manufacturers about long-haul aircraft but can’t comment further on this. European consumers want lower cost travel to the USA and the same for Americans coming to Europe. We see it as a logical development in the European market.

“We would like to offer low-cost flights between 12 to 14 European cities and 12 to 14 U.S. cities. The business plan is there but it’s dependent on attaining viable long-haul aircraft and we estimate that’s four to five years away.”

The Irish low-fare airline’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, has long talked of ambitions to offer a discount-fare service across the Atlantic, but not until Monday had the airline confirmed board approval. Norwegian Air Shuttle offers the world’s only low-fare transatlantic service, but its flights between Europe and five destinations on the East and West coasts of the U.S. with Boeing 787 Dreamliners have weighed on its financial results, contributing significantly to a 1.1 billion kroner ($134 million) loss last year.