Ryanair claims bases will support 2,300 jobs
The airline is basing two aircraft at Leeds-Bradford and seven at Faro. It will operate 17 routes at Leeds-Bradford and anticipates that it will transport one million passengers a year to and from the airport and sustain 1,000 jobs at its new base.
In Faro it will operate 30 routes and plans to carry 1.3 million passengers at the airport and sustain 1,300 jobs.
Ryanair now has 39 bases across Europe.
Member of the board of directors at Faro, Heitor da Fonseca said: “Ryanair’s based operations at Faro will be an important catalyst for economic activity in the region. First of all, it is a sign of commitment from the main European low-cost airline to the potential of the Algarve and it offers a unique opportunity to affirm the Algarve region as a high quality tourism destination within Europe.”
Routes for Faro will include services to Kerry, Knock, Shannon, Dublin and Derry. The routes from Leeds-Bradford include services to Dublin and Knock.
Commercial director at Leeds-Bradford Tony Hallwood said: “Leeds-Bradford is pleased to see the commencement of 14 new destinations by Ryanair this week, offering Yorkshire leisure travellers a wide choice of destinations across six European countries.
“By delivering seven new routes to the airport this summer Ryanair is also supporting LBIA’s important role as Yorkshire’s international gateway airport and securing over 1,000 new jobs in the region.”
Chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire Gary Verity said: “This is great news for Yorkshire as it reinforces the work that we are doing internationally to ensure our region is the UK’s number one holiday destination.
“The new Ryanair routes open up the region to a combined population of over five million possible visitors.”
