Ryanair closes Valencia base - 27th October 2008

Budget airline Ryanair has announced that it is shutting its base in Valencia, Spain, with the loss of 70 weekly flights following a row with the local council. This comes only a year after its launch.

In a setback to its rapid expansion in the Spanish market, Europe’s leading low-cost carrier said the decision had been taken following the refusal of the local council to "engage in constructive discussions in relation to the promotion of the airport and its routes across Ryanair's network in Europe."

Ryanair flies from Valencia to 10 destinations including three in England - Stansted, East Midlands and Liverpool. Flights on all 10 routes, which are used by 750,000 passengers a year, will be cancelled from 4 November. 

Ryanair said it had increased its passenger traffic to and from Valencia by more than 25 per cent this year to an expected total of 1.5m out of the airport’s total of 6m. 

It would continue to serve Valencia from some other locations in its remaining network of 30 bases.

Ryanair, EasyJet , British Airways and Virgin have all trimmed back winter schedules axeing unprofitable flights in recent months. 

Simon Conn, Sales & Marketing Director at Conti Financial Services, says:
"People definitely gravitate to locations with a nearby airport, especially if it's served by a budget airline, but we always try to warn prospective buyers that there are no guarantees that cheap flights will continue indefinitely in one location. 

"However, people affected by these cutbacks shouldn't panic. Remember that other nearby airports may offer alternative carriers. We're finding that other European carriers are now competing with the UK budget airlines, so you should definitely shop around for other potential bargains. This may sometimes mean going through another 'hub airport' such as Amsterdam or Berlin."