Ryanair (and EasyJet) Slashes Routes to Spain in Row Over Airport Tax Increase

dailymail ^ | 12:35 EST, 23 July 2012 | TRAVELMAIL REPORTER

[11th_VA]

Ryanair is cutting three routes to Spain and reducing the number of flights to the country's two main cities in a row over airport taxes. Taxes paid by airlines at Madrid and Barcelona airports will be doubled as the country struggles to reduce its spiralling deficit.

Ryanair routes between Manchester and Madrid, East Midlands and Barcelona El Prat and Leeds Bradford and Barcelona El Prat, will be scrapped from November.

Chief executive Michael O'Leary said: 'Ryanair objects to the Spanish government’s decision to double airport taxes at both Madrid and Barcelona airports. Sadly, this will lead to severe traffic, tourism and job cuts at both airports this winter.

'Ryanair’s cuts alone will cause a combined loss of 2.3m passengers and more than 2,000 jobs at Madrid and Barcelona El Prat airports to other lower-cost airports elsewhere in Europe, where Ryanair continues to grow.' Barcelona and Madrid, which are state-owned, will lose 492 Ryanair flights per week between them.

[11th_VA]

Am I the only one here who just bought tickets on Easyjet out of Madrid this winter? This is an interesting test of wills on taxes though ...

[saintgermaine]

I have to see yet a country, state or municipality which has spent and taxed itself in to prosperity.

[winner3000]

I love what Ryanair is doing.

[pepsionice]

I’ve ridden Ryanair on several occasions. First, these little airports that they use....actually feel like bus terminals. You walk out of the building....at least three hundred feet usually...to board the plane. Nothing much is offered freely via the airline. I admit it’s a great deal, but you have to accept the fact that they will land in the middle of nowhere, and you have to drive your way out of the location.