31st Oct 2013 10:45
LONDON (Alliance News) - Ryanair Holdings PLC Thursday said it would launch new services from Knock airport, the second step in its promise to increase services in Ireland in the wake of a government decision to scrap a passenger tax.
Europe's biggest low-cost carrier said that from April, it will open three new routes from Knock, to Eindhoven, Glasgow and Kaunas, as well as increasing frequency on its London route, and believes that will mean an extra 80,000 passengers a year will use the airport.
Earlier this month Ryanair announced plans to fly one million more passengers from Irish airports after the country's government said it would scrap a EUR3 a person travel tax, brought in during the financial crisis as the Irish Treasury sought to balance its books amid an international bailout.
Last week, it said it would open eight new routes from Shannon airport and increase weekly flights to London from the airport, a move it thinks will bring 300,000 more passengers a year through Shannon.
It had also invited Dublin, Cork and Kerry airports to talks about increasing flights.
"Having met with all five of the main Irish airports, and announced new growth for 2014 at Shannon and Knock, we hope to announce further new route and traffic growth plans over the coming weeks," Chief Operating Officer Michael Cawley in a statement.
The airline blames the travel tax for a decline in traffic at Ireland's main airports to 23.5 million in 2005, from 30.5 million in 2008.
Ryanair shares were down 0.1% at EUR6.13 Thursday morning.
By Steve McGrath; [email protected]; @stevemcgrath1
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