18 July 2008

Ryanair expands from Leeds/Bradford

Ryanair is to start two new routes from Leeds/Bradford this winter but is to temporarily shut down operations at seven airports across Europe.

The no-frills airline is to serve Girona, for Barcelona, four times a week from October 1 and Alicante three times a week from October 28.

In a separate move, the carrier is to suspend operations between November 4 until December 19 at Basel, Budapest, Krakow, Palma, Rzeszow, Salzburg and Valencia.

The suspension of flights follows Ryanair cutting winter capacity from both Stansted and Dublin (See previous TravelMole story).

Ã¢â¬ÅâœWith oil at $140 a barrel, flights at expensive airports must be reduced this winter when fares are very low,Ã¢â¬~ the airline said.

Deputy chief executive Michael Cawley said: Ã¢â¬ÅâœWe very much regret temporarily closing our operations at these airports during this November and December period.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœHowever, a combination of high airport charges and the massive increases which we face in fuel prices, makes it more profitable for Ryanair to ground aircraft rather than fly them at these airports during this period.Ã¢â¬~

He added: Ã¢â¬ÅâœLow airport costs and local support are required to sustain these operations, particularly through the low yielding months in the winter.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœIn the absence of this support, Ryanair has no alternative but to cancel these routes and develop its business elsewhere.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœWe will continue our discussions with the airport authorities in order to convince them that this type of interruption to our services need not happen in the future if costs are reduced and hopefully we can develop an agreement on how they can support the year round continuation of our services on a viable basis for the benefit of the airports and the regions they serve.Ã¢â¬~

by Phil Davies