Global Airport News

Global Airport News

Ryanair is to slash its operations at Girona, near Barcelona, because its 5 year expansion plan at the airport has fallen through.

At the end of February, the carrier will take 5 aircraft out of Girona, axe 18 routes and reduce the frequencies on a further 17.

Ryanair announced in December 2010 that it would expand its Girona hub over 5 years, basing up to 10 aircraft at the airport at the start of the summer 2011 season.

However, the carrier now says that the new Catalonian Government "has refused to honour" the 5 year agreement, which was established under the previous Government.

"Ryanair sincerely regrets that the new Government of Catalonia has failed to honour the recent 5 year extension of our base agreement at Girona Airport despite the fact that it was consulted on its detail by the outgoing Government," says Ryanair.

Ryanair will now switch 5 aircraft from Girona with the loss of 18 routes, over 100 weekly flights, 1.7 million passengers per annum and 1,700 jobs to other airports elsewhere in Europe.