Ryanair, the low-cost airline, announced yesterday the opening of its fifth base in Portugal – Madeira which will have two aircraft based in the region, representing an investment of 177 million euros. In addition the airline is opening ten new routes which will connect Madeira with Mainland Portugal and six other European countries, and position the region as a leading tourist destination.
Ryanair’s new base in Madeira will ensure:
– 2 aircraft
– 60 new direct jobs
– More than 40 weekly flights leaving Madeira
– 10 new routes – more than any other airline
In a statement, the company explains the investment:
“Ryanair’s new base in Madeira represents the airline’s commitment to Portugal and demonstrates its impact on the development of Portuguese tourism, with more than 40 weekly flights, on 10 new routes, including 5 exclusive ones, for next summer. Ryanair will also operate 160 Portuguese routes next summer (more than double TAP’s) to 15 countries.
To celebrate the opening of the new base in Madeira, Ryanair will launch a campaign with fares starting at €29.99 for next summer – perfect for all travelers looking to spend a relaxing weekend or an extended holiday full of adventures in the archipelago, also known for its offer of regional wines and breathtaking landscapes. These special fares are available until Thursday, November 25th at Ryanair.com.
New 2022 summer route to Madeira:
Brussels – Charleroi
Dublin
Lisbon
London Stansted
Manchester
Marseille
Milan – Bergamo
Nuremberg
Paris – Beavauis
Porto
According to Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair:
“We are pleased to announce the opening of our new base in Madeira, which will provide the connection to 10 new destinations, through 2 aircraft and 40 weekly flights, connecting Madeira to cities such as London, Paris, Dublin, Milan and Manchester, during the year. This 200$m investment will not only boost Portugal’s economy by contributing to the growth of regional tourism, but will also create more than 60 direct jobs in the region and more than 400 indirect jobs locally in Madeira.
We further assert that efficient operations and competitive airport fees are the foundation from which Ryanair can deliver long-term traffic growth and greater connectivity. We will work closely with our partners at Madeira airport, Turismo de Portugal and APM to ensure this growth and improve services for those who live, work, or wish to visit the region.
At a time when it is possible to see other airlines reducing their fleets and closing bases, we are happy to continue investing both in our teams and in airports in Portugal. We encourage the Portuguese Government to do the same, with the opening of the new Lisbon-Montijo airport, eliminating the inappropriate aviation tax (which is a direct tax on tourism) and introducing a non-discriminatory traffic recovery scheme. All of this could easily be financed with the €3.2bn of wasted state aid granted to TAP, the small ‘zombie’ airline, operated by the Portuguese government.
Thierry Ligonnière, the CEO of ANA-VINCI Airports, says:
“The announcement of the Ryanair base in Madeira for the summer of 2022 is excellent news for the Autonomous Region of Madeira. This base is the result of a partnership with Ryanair, the Madeira Tourism Promotion Association and the Directorate of Tourism In addition to strengthening the existing partnership between VINCI and Ryanair, this base will allow, through the opening of 5 new routes in 2022, a significant increase in Madeira’s connectivity, boosting the diversification of the tourist markets, which is so important for the recovery and growth of tourism in the region.”
And to finish off with, TAP have been heavily criticised over their Christmas flight prices to Madeira, which exceed the ceiling of 400 euros!
