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Ryanair to axe Glasgow Airport base Ryanair to axe Glasgow Airport base
(35 minutes later)
Ryanair is to close its base at Glasgow Airport, putting more than 300 jobs at risk. Ryanair is to close its base at Glasgow Airport, warning that 300 jobs could go as a result.
The airline, which also operates out of Prestwick, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, will cut the number of routes out of Glasgow from 23 to just three.The airline, which also operates out of Prestwick, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, will cut the number of routes out of Glasgow from 23 to just three.
The company said 11 new routes would be added to its Edinburgh schedule.
Chief commercial officer David O'Brien blamed the change on the cost of air passenger duty and said Glasgow "simply could not bear the burden".Chief commercial officer David O'Brien blamed the change on the cost of air passenger duty and said Glasgow "simply could not bear the burden".
Glasgow Airport said it was "bitterly disappointed" by Ryanair's decision.
A spokesman for the airport said there was "no doubt" that the failure to replace air passenger duty (APD) with a cheaper air departure tax (ADT) in Scotland was behind the move.
Ryanair made the announcement as it unveiled its schedule for winter 2018, confirming that only its services to Dublin, Wroclaw and Krakow would continue from Glasgow.Ryanair made the announcement as it unveiled its schedule for winter 2018, confirming that only its services to Dublin, Wroclaw and Krakow would continue from Glasgow.
The company said 11 new routes would be added to its Edinburgh schedule.
Mr O'Brien said the move would put 300 jobs at risk with a potential fall of 500,000 passengers, when the base closes in November.Mr O'Brien said the move would put 300 jobs at risk with a potential fall of 500,000 passengers, when the base closes in November.
'Severely hampered''Severely hampered'
He added: "Ryanair regrets these cuts in the weaker Glasgow market where efforts to stimulate low fare demand are severely hampered by the continuing burden of APD (Air Passenger Duty). He added: "Ryanair regrets these cuts in the weaker Glasgow market where efforts to stimulate low fare demand are severely hampered by the continuing burden of APD.
"As a result, we will transfer our Glasgow International based aircraft to Edinburgh in November where we will offer 11 new low fare routes (45 in total including London Stansted) and deliver over 3.5m passengers per annum at Edinburgh Airport.""As a result, we will transfer our Glasgow International based aircraft to Edinburgh in November where we will offer 11 new low fare routes (45 in total including London Stansted) and deliver over 3.5m passengers per annum at Edinburgh Airport."
He added that Brexit was a threat to Scottish tourism and the airline industry. Mr O'Brien said that Brexit was a threat to Scottish tourism and the airline industry.
In future the airline will host 45 routes from Edinburgh, including the 11 new routes. The Scottish government wants to replace air passenger duty with a cheaper air departure tax from April.
However, its plans have been hit with legal issues because they require EU approval under state aid rules.
'Stark scenario'
A spokesman for Glasgow Airport said: "We are bitterly disappointed at this decision by Ryanair which is not only damaging for Glasgow and wider Scottish connectivity, it will impact approximately 100 jobs locally.
"This is a result of the airline's review of its single aircraft bases, however, we have been left in no doubt it is also a consequence of the Scottish government's inability to introduce its proposed 50% cut in air departure tax.
"Despite clear and repeated warnings from both airports and airlines about the potential impact of this policy not being implemented, we are now faced with a stark scenario that includes the loss of 20 services and a significant number of jobs."
The spokesman said capacity would continue to be reallocated elsewhere until there was movement on ADT.
In future Ryanair will host 45 routes from Edinburgh, including the 11 new routes.
The airline's summer schedule will operate as planned out of Glasgow.The airline's summer schedule will operate as planned out of Glasgow.
Ryanair opened its base at Glasgow Airport in autumn 2014, one of several new bases opened across Europe that year.Ryanair opened its base at Glasgow Airport in autumn 2014, one of several new bases opened across Europe that year.
At the time it said it remained committed to Prestwick Airport and would continue to offer flights from there.At the time it said it remained committed to Prestwick Airport and would continue to offer flights from there.