Ryanair hopes to expand branches

RYANAIR is hoping to open up to four new hubs across Europe by summer of next year.

These openings will follow the establishment of its 26th European and fifth Spanish base at Reus in Tarragona, south of Barcelona — details of which were announced yesterday.

The airline’s chief executive Michael O’Leary, made the announcement in Madrid saying heexpects to have an additional Spanish base operating from summer 2009 and is in talks with as many as six airports.

He added that the airline will likely open two or three other European hubs before starting the sixth base in Spain.

Ryanair will spend $140 million (€96m) to buy two new aircraft and double the number of routes at Reus to 12 from six.

Ryanair already flies to Reus from Dublin, Glasgow, Liverpool, London Luton and London Stansted.

In June, routes from Birmingham will be added, and from October there will be services from Reus to Palma, Paris, Santander, Santiago, and Seville.

“We think Reus will grow strongly,” said Mr O’Leary.

“The one million passengers that Ryanair delivers to and from Reus next year will generate a local visitor spend of at least €150m,” he added.

Reus Airport is 13km from the Spanish city of Tarragona and about 80km south of Barcelona.

Ryanair recently announced its booking website will be closed for three days from 10pm on February 22 to 11pm on February 25.

The closure is to enable a complete review to ensure compliance with the fare transparency requirements set down by the Office of Fair Trading.

Ryanair will not be in a position to take any bookings during the time of the closure.

Online check-in-passengers also will not be able to check in between 1am on February 22 until 11pm on February 25.