25 November 2008

Ryanair to withdraw from Blackpool

Ryanair has announced its intention to cancel services from Blackpool after the airport announced plans to introduce an Airport Development Fee from January 5.

The airline will stop its daily flights to and from Dublin and its three services a week to Girona from January 4, unless the airport scraps the fee.

"This fee will be levied on all passengers without exception after that date and will substantially increase the cost of travel through this small regional airport which is totally dependent on low fares for its passenger traffic," it said in a statement.

"Ryanair had engaged in discussions with the management of the airport in attempts to underline the negative effect this fee would have and urge them not to introduce the fee.

"However, now that the airport has decided to go ahead with the introduction of the fee, Ryanair will withdraw all its services from the airport."

Ryanair deputy chief executive Michael Cawley added: Ã¢â¬ÅâœThis is a black day for Blackpool International Airport. The managementÃ¢â¬â¢s decision, against RyanairÃ¢â¬â¢s advice, to introduce an Airport Development Fee is an extremely regressive step which inevitably involves a massive increase in the cost of travel for passengers through the airport.

"With this step, the management at Blackpool Airport have severely dented the economic prospects for the region which this airport serves and we call on them to reverse this decision immediately while there is still time to save the airport.Ã¢â¬~

By Bev Fearis