Ryanair launches 25th European base

Low-fares airline Ryanair today announced that its 25th European base will be at Birmingham International Airport.

The move is expected to create 5,000 jobs in the West Midlands and will introduce 20 new routes from Birmingham to destinations including Portugal, Slovakia and Norway.

Airline boss Michael O’Leary said: “Ryanair’s €469m investment in Birmingham will bring with it a significant increase in European visitors and jobs for the West Midlands.

“The people of Birmingham have been woefully underserved and overcharged by British Airways and Flybe’s high fares for years.

“Ryanair’s new base will smash this high fare stranglehold by delivering savings of £130m (€172m) next year for Birmingham’s passengers and visitors.”

The base, which will begin with two Boeing 737-800 aircraft and later expand to a further eight, is expected to deal with five million passengers annually.