Ryanair cuts routes to Spain in row over airport tax increase at Madrid and Barcelona

July 24th, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

By
Travelmail Reporter

PUBLISHED:

12:35 EST, 23 July 2012

|

UPDATED:

12:35 EST, 23 July 2012

Ryanair is cutting three routes to Spain and reducing the number of flights to the country’s two main cities in a row over airport taxes.

Taxes paid by airlines at Madrid and Barcelona airports will be doubled as the country struggles to reduce its spiralling deficit.

Ryanair routes between Manchester and Madrid, East Midlands and Barcelona El Prat and Leeds Bradford and Barcelona El Prat, will be scrapped from November.

Michael O'Leary

Cuts Chief executive Michael O’Leary confirmed Ryanair would be slashing its routes to Spain as a result of the airport tax increase

The no-frills airline will also reduce capacity on 24 routes from Madrid and 22 from Barcelona, including flights connecting with Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and Dublin.

Chief executive Michael O’Leary said: ‘Ryanair objects to the Spanish government’s decision to double airport taxes at both Madrid and Barcelona airports. Sadly, this will lead to severe traffic, tourism and job cuts at both airports this winter.

‘Ryanair’s cuts alone will cause a combined loss of 2.3m passengers and more than 2,000 jobs at Madrid and Barcelona El Prat airports to other lower-cost airports elsewhere in Europe, where Ryanair continues to grow.’

Barcelona and Madrid, which are state-owned, will lose 492 Ryanair flights per week between them.

The airline had already vowed to pass on the increase in airport taxes, which came into effect on July 1, to customers.

It is not the first time Ryanair has used its clout to punish destinations for offering uncompetitive rates.

In 2011, Mr O’Leary closed the airline’s European hub in Marseilles after it was accused of avoiding paying tax in France by giving its 200 pilots and cabin crew who were based at the airport Irish contracts, meaning all payments went to Ireland.

Ryanair also announced it would reduce its flights from Edinburgh, cancelling eight routes from October, claiming that airport owner BAA had refused to offer a competitive cost for further Ryanair growth.

In the past, the budget airline has been accused of accepting financial incentives to use certain regional airports, with local tourism chiefs hoping an influx of budget flights will bring in extra business.

Spain is not only losing business from Ryanair. EasyJet has also announced it is closing its base at Madrid airport this winter, citing higher taxes as one of the reasons.

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Ungrateful Ryanair and this type of airlines. We won’t miss you and the tourists you bring. We don’t want foreigners and ‘expats’ who criticise our country.
– Erica, Burgos, Spain, 24/7/2012 03:08*************** Nice to see such pride in your own country….. but you want their money in the form of a bailout though……… hypocrite!

– Old Sailor, taxpayer abroad, 24/7/2012 04:18

The increase in airport taxes is being used as an excuse to hide the fact that airlines such as Ryanair have lost business because fewer people are going to these destinations. They are going there for a purpose – the flight is the method of transport, not the reason for the visit. If they do not have the money for the visit, they do not need the flight.

– Robert, Exeter, UK, 24/7/2012 04:13

Worst airline in the world..with the rudest, most uncooperative staff to suit. I have seen some wonderful airlines go down the pan through greed and missmanagement…I hope and pray I’m around to see this one go down..and what a wonderful day that will be….I think I might wear green just to celebrate…

– ANDREW, BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA, 24/7/2012 03:29

Ryanair sucks.

– Jim, Omaha US, 24/7/2012 03:27

– Andrew, Brisbane, Australia, 24/7/2012 03:24

I don’t particularly like Ryanair but i’m glad that someone at last is standing up to these thieving airport taxes. If they continue none of us will be able to afford to fly.

– Joe, EUSSR, 24/7/2012 03:12

Ungrateful Ryanair and this type of airlines. We won’t miss you and the tourists you bring. We don’t want foreigners and ‘expats’ who criticise our country.

– Erica, Burgos, Spain, 24/7/2012 03:08

Less routes to Portugal’s competitor and rival. Fewer flights to Spain from the UK mean fewer tourists to our rival. Awesome! Just hope our government will learn from this and decrease airport taxes, to encourage more flights to Portugal through Ryanair, Easyjet, etc. Scrapping tolls on motorways, particularly A22 in the Algarve would also be helpful. We need to be even more welcoming to tourists. If our government, businesses and tourist workers are smart enough, Spain’s loss can be Portugal’s win.

– Mateus, Algarve, 24/7/2012 03:05

I use Rynair for shorthaul flights regularly. I only take hand luggage don’t get caught for any of the extras that are clearly listed on the terms conditions. I love being able to head off around Europe for the price of a bottle of booze.

– Elizaa, Doo, 24/7/2012 03:01

Worst airline ever!

– Cherry M., Los Angeles, CA USA, 24/7/2012 02:59

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