Ryanair blames air tax for decision to close Glasgow base
Ryanair is to close its Glasgow base next winter and instead boost its services from nearby Edinburgh.
The airline is pulling the one aircraft it operates from Glasgow out of the airport next winter and keeping just three of the 23 routes it offers from there.
It warned this would result in the loss of up to 300 jobs.
The British Airline Pilots’ Associationhas called for reassurances from Ryanair that all Glasgow-based pilots will receive preferential access to relocate when their base closes later this year.
National Officer, Terry Brandon said: "This is sad news for the pilot community based at Glasgow and we will do all that we can to support our members. We have started the process of consultation with Ryanair to ensure that our members jobs are protected."
At the same time, Ryaniar is adding 11 new winter routes from Edinburgh, including five being moved from Glasgow.
Ryanair’s Scottish winter 2018/19 schedule has gone on sale today and consists of 45 routes from Edinburgh, eight routes from Glasgow Prestwick and three from Glasgow International to Dublin, Krakow and Wroclaw.
In Edinburgh, Ryanair’s chief commercial officer, David O’Brien said: "Ryanair regrets these cuts in the weaker Glasgow market where efforts to stimulate low fare demand are severely hampered by the continuing burden of air passenger duty.
"As a result, we will transfer our Glasgow International based aircraft to Edinburgh in November where we will offer 11 new low fare routes and deliver over 3.5 million passengers per annum at Edinburgh Airport."
Glasgow Airport said it was ‘bitterly disappointed’ by Ryanair’s decision, adding that it was not in any doubt that the Scottish government’s failure to reduce APD was behind the decision.
The Scottish government said it remained committed to reducing APD by 50%, but that there were still issues to be resolved before this could be introduced.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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