Jobs Threatened As Ryanair Slashes Manchester Routes

Europe’s largest cut-price carrier, Ryanair,  has cited Manchester airport’s refusal to lower its charges for the cuts that will affect 44 weekly flights and 600,000 and potentially cost up to 600 local jobs.

The airline said that it had offered Manchester Airport a further 28 weekly flights and 400,000 passengers, which would have potentially created 400 jobs if the airport cut its high fees.  Manchester airport rejected the offer.

As a result, Ryanair will close routes on October 1 from Manchester to Barcelona, Bremen, Brussels, Cagliari, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Marseille, Milan and Shannon.  Passengers who are booked on flights after this date will be notified by email and provided a full refund or offered alternatives from nearby “cheaper” destinations such as East Midlands, Leeds Bradford and Liverpool.

Ryanair will continue flying the Dublin to Manchester route.

Spokesman for Ryanair, Stephen McNamara said: “Ryanair continues to lower fares to encourage travel, but with passengers paying lower fares airports must lower their charges – particularly high-cost airports like Manchester, Stansted and Dublin. Ryanair had offered new routes, traffic and growth to Manchester airport but since they prefer to preserve their high-cost base than to grow, Ryanair will now switch/close nine Manchester routes.”

With forecasts of a tough winter for airlines, Ryanair has already announced cuts in flights at Stansted and Dublin, and could possibly reduce fares by up to 20 percent in order to fill seats.   Its average fare could be reduced from €40 (£35) to €32, including baggage check-in charges, in order to fill its 200-strong fleet that will increase to 300 aircraft by 2012.

Thanks to the Telegraph for the above quotes.  For more information on this article please visit their website.