Ryanair orders new planes but doubt over Valencia flights
[October 17th 2008]
Budget airline Ryanair has confirmed that it is exercising its option to buy 10 aircraft from Boeing.
Under the terms of its 2005 agreement with Boeing, Ryanair has exercised options for 10 Boeing 737-800 Next Generation planes, with delivery of three aircraft in October 2010 and the remaining seven in November 2010.
Today is the deadline for Ryanair to decide whether to close its base at Valencia airport in Spain. The low cost airline has given the Communidad Valenciana airport until today to respond to a proposal it sent to it in early July after discussions with the regional Tourism Minister in June.
Ryanair says that "despite numerous requests subsequently, no response to this proposal has been received". The airline says that recently it has tried to arrange meetings in Madrid and Toledo but has been given a negative reply.
“Hundreds of airports throughout Europe are increasingly recognising that if they want to grow their passenger traffic then Ryanair is the only airline which can provide this increase on a sustainable basis," says Ryanair deputy chief executive, Michael Cawley.
"Unfortunately the Communidad Valenciana does not seem to recognise the urgent requirement to engage with the largest airline in Valencia in promoting routes to and from the airport. Ryanair has taken all reasonable steps to engage with the Communidad but unfortunately has received no positive communication in return," Cawley continues.
Ryanair currently offers flights from a number of airports including Dublin, East Midlands, Liverpool John Lennon and Stansted to Valencia. The Spanish city has become increasingly popular with a string of modern museums and landmark buildings and staged the Americas Cup yacht race last year.
Cawley concludes: "Regrettably we must emphasise that Friday is the last day for a response. Thereafter we will be forced to close our base at Valencia with the consequential reduction in passenger traffic of approximately 800,000 passengers per annum through the airport and the loss of 800 jobs in the local area”.
Written by: Nick Purdom
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