Ryanair Threaten To Close Valencia Base

Friday 17th October 2008

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1285/671440250_f7e648ae6f_m_d.jpg

Low cost carrier Ryanair has threatened the closure of its base at Valencia requesting a response from the Communidad Valenciana by Friday the 17th of October to prevent the closure going ahead.

The airline state on Ryanair.com that they have met with tourism authorities on numerous occasions and also spoke to the Tourism Minister in June of 2008. According to Ryanair they submitted a detailed proposal in early July 2008 to the Minister and claim that no responses have been forthcoming. They went on to comment, "most recently attempts to secure meetings in Madrid and Toledo have met with a negative reply. Now Ryanair seeks to bring a final conclusion to these proceedings and has told the Communidad that, unless it receives a response to its proposals, which are now three months old, by Friday, 17th October, it will close its base at Valencia."

Commenting on the announcement was Ryanair's Deputy Chief Executive, Michael Cawley who said;

"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. If the Communidad Valenciana does not wish to engage with Ryanair then it is quite clear that we should be dealing with the many other airports and communities who observe the normal courtesies of business by responding to correspondence and by engaging in cooperative promotional activities.

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. 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."