Ryanair has announced they are to close their base at Glasgow Airport with 300 jobs expected to be lost.
The airline will cut the number of routes out of Glasgow from 23 to just three. The currently also operate out of Prestwick, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports,
Ryanair chief commercial officer David O’Brien blamed the change on the cost of air passenger duty. Glasgow Airport said it was “bitterly disappointed” by Ryanair’s decision. MP for the area, Gavin Newlands, reacted angrily to the decision and said he was “really frustrated with the leadership of Ryanair who have over the past few months been in a state of disarray”.
The airline unveiled its schedule for winter 2018, with only services to Dublin, Wroclaw and Krakow from Glasgow but 11 new routes will be added to its Edinburgh schedule.
A spokesman for Glasgow Airport said: “We are bitterly disappointed at this decision by Ryanair which is not only damaging for Glasgow and wider Scottish connectivity, it will impact approximately 100 jobs locally. This is a result of the airline’s review of its single aircraft bases, however, we have been left in no doubt it is also a consequence of the Scottish Government’s inability to introduce its proposed 50% cut in Air Departure Tax (ADT).
“Despite clear and repeated warnings from both airports and airlines about the potential impact of this policy not being implemented, we are now faced with a stark scenario that includes the loss of 20 services and a significant number of jobs.
“This is the second example in as many months of an airline cutting capacity in Scotland because of the lack of movement on ADT. The reality is this capacity will be reallocated elsewhere in Europe to countries with more favourable aviation taxation policies to Scotland’s detriment. We cannot sit back and risk Scotland’s connectivity being further eroded. It is imperative there is immediate action on ADT.”
Gavin Newlands, SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said: “This bitterly disappointing announcement by Ryanair will be painful news to Glasgow Airport and the wider Renfrewshire economy. This announcement could result in 300 local jobs being lost, a reduction of 20 flight routes and a loss of up to 1.2 million passengers.
“My first thoughts are with the local staff who may be affected by this disappointing announcement and I’m ready to offer any assistance that I can.
“I am really frustrated with the leadership of Ryanair who have over the past few months been in a state of disarray.
“The behaviour of Ryanair raises some serious questions, but this announcement also shows that the shambolic Brexit negotiations are having a detrimental impact on the airline industry. The European Commission has regularly warned that the UK will leave the single aviation market when it leaves the EU and the UK Government have continued to ignore these warnings, despite the deep worries of those working in the airline industry.
“We need to do more to protect and grow our airline industry. The Scottish Government’s Air Departure Tax is one way in which we can do this as soon as the issues surrounding tax emption for flights departing from the Highlands and Islands have been resolved. The UK Government cannot delay this any longer – they should support these proposals and ensure they are approved by the European Commission.
“However, the attempts to grow our airline industry will be hampered whilst the UK Government trudges on unprepared with the Brexit negotiations. Their ineptitude and arrogance are already having an impact and its past time that they wake up and start treating these negotiations with the seriousness that they deserve.”
Constituency MSP Derek Mackay, said: “The UK Government continue to set rates for APD, and they should take this news seriously.
“The SNP are committed to reducing departure tax by 50% from Scottish airports, something which Labour still oppose. They should now re-consider their stance.”
Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer, David O’Brien said: “Ryanair regrets these cuts in the weaker Glasgow market where efforts to stimulate low fare demand are severely hampered by the continuing burden of APD [Air Passenger Duty].
As a result, we will transfer our Glasgow International based aircraft to Edinburgh in November where we will offer 11 new low fare routes (45 in total including London Stansted) and deliver over 3.5m passengers per annum at Edinburgh Airport.