Ryanair has offered AENA a growth plan proposal to increase Spanish air traffic by 5 million passengers per annum over next three years, in exchange for a reduction in air taxes which Ryanair said were “unjustified and excessive” following increases in recent years.
The growth proposal was unveiled at press conference in Madrid by Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary, in in which he explained that the offer of 5 million passengers per annum in 2014, 2015 and 2016, stating the proposal is a “growth opportunity” that could lead to the creation of over 5,000 jobs. In 2013 Ryanair will carry 31 million passengers from Spain and has recently announced a spate of new routes from the Canary Islands to Germany and Scandinavian.
The new aircraft order for 175 Boeing 737-800s will provide an additional capacity of 25 million passengers from 2014 to 2019.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said “The huge drop in traffic in Spanish AENA airports in recent years is unprecedented and is unrivaled by any other major European economy. The loss of 30 million passengers and more than 30,000 jobs in the airports of Spain is a direct result of that AENA has quadrupled its airport charges in the last six years. Spanish Government policy to fatten the profits of AENA (with unjustified rate increases) in order to privatize this public monopoly, involves sharp declines in traffic and jobs for the Spanish economy and is unsustainable.
Ryanair asks AENA and the Spanish Government to reverse this strategy failed high rates at airports and focus on reducing prices to stimulate traffic growth and tourism in Spain which immediately create thousands of jobs and reduce the outrageous figure of 50% of youth unemployment in Spain.
By ordering 175 new aircraft to be delivered between 2014 and 2019, no other EU airline can match the ability to carry passengers from Ryanair and its ability to increase your traffic and allocate a significant proportion of this growth in Spain . Ryanair is now asking AENA respond favorably to the proposed rapid growth of Ryanair.”
Irish Aviation Research Institute © 16th May 2013 All Rights Reserved.
