Valencia Base May Close

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News Release--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

14.10.08

Valencia Base May Close Due to Regional Government’s Failures

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline, today (14th Oct) announced that it may be forced to close its Valencia base following the failure of Regional Government (Conselleria de Turisme) to reply to Ryanair’s proposal on how to ensure the continued growth of passengers at Valencia and their repeated failure to meet with Ryanair.

Ryanair has set a deadline of this coming Friday, 17th Oct for a response from the Government before it makes its final decision on the future of its base at Valencia airport.

Since Ryanair began flying to Valencia in 2004 annual passenger numbers have increased each year. Ryanair currently operates 22 international routes to and from Valencia, all of which are at risk if Ryanair must close all operations to/from Valencia.

Ryanair is the largest airline flying to Valencia but, despite its importance to the local economy, the government has opted to support other airlines who have not provided a fraction of the growth which Ryanair has to the airport. Instead it has chosen to ignore all efforts by Ryanair to collaborate in ensuring the continued growth in passenger traffic at the airport.

Speaking today, Ryanair’s Deputy Chief Executive, Michael Cawley, said:

“Ryanair has once again proven that it is the lowest fares, best punctuality and fewest lost bags that passengers really want. That is why over one and a half million passengers will choose Ryanair this year to travel to/from Valencia. It is madness that the Regional Government is risking the livelihoods of the tourism industry by ignoring our repeated attempts to meet with them.

Ryanair calls on the Regional Government of Valencia to act in the best interest of all those living and working in Valencia and to meet with Ryanair to agree the terms under which we can continue to grow traffic and passenger numbers with all its consequential economic and social benefits.”

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News Release
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16.10.08
Ryanair Confirms Friday 17th Oct as Decision Date on Valencia Base

Ryanair, Europe’s leading low fares airline, today, (16th Oct), confirmed that it would close its base at Valencia if it had received no response from the Communidad Valenciana by Friday, 17th October.

Ryanair has met with the tourism authorities on a number of occasions and has had discussions with the Tourism Minister in June 2008. A detailed proposal was sent to the Minister in early July and, despite numerous requests subsequently, no response to this proposal has been received by the airline. Most recently attempts to secure meetings in Madrid and Toledo have met with a negative reply. Now Ryanair seeks to bring a final conclusion to these proceedings and has told the Communidad that, unless it receives a response to its proposals, which are now three months old, by Friday, 17th October, it will close its base at Valencia.

Ryanair’s Deputy Chief Executive, Michael Cawley, said:

“Hundreds of airports throughout Europe are increasingly recognising that if they want to grow their passenger traffic then Ryanair is the only airline which can provide this increase on a sustainable basis. If the Communidad Valenciana does not wish to engage with Ryanair then it is quite clear that we should be dealing with the many other airports and communities who observe the normal courtesies of business by responding to correspondence and by engaging in cooperative promotional activities.

Unfortunately the Communidad Valenciana does not seem to recognise the urgent requirement to engage with the largest airline in Valencia in promoting routes to and from the airport. Ryanair has taken all reasonable steps to engage with the Communidad but unfortunately has received no positive communication in return.

Regrettably we must emphasise that Friday is the last day for a response. Thereafter we will be forced to close our base at Valencia with the consequential reduction in passenger traffic of approximately 800,000 passengers per annum through the airport and the loss of 800 jobs in the local area. ”

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24.10.08

Valencia Loses 750,000 Passengers and 750 Jobs as Ryanair Closes Base

Ryanair, Europe’s leading low fares airline, today (24th Oct) announced the closure of its base at Valencia following the refusal of the Comunitat Valenciana to engage in constructive discussions in relation to the promotion of the airport and its routes across Ryanair’s network in Europe. The closure will lead to a loss of over 70 weekly Ryanair flights, 750,000 passengers p.a. and over 750 jobs in the region.

Ryanair’s investment of over $140m will be moved to another base in its network which will be announced next week.

Ryanair announced its new base in Valencia in August 2007 and has increased its passenger traffic by over 25% this year to an expected annual outcome of 1.5m passengers (out of a total of 6m at the airport). Ryanair’s base represented the bulk of growth at Valencia Airport over the last two years and, due to the fact that almost all the routes were from international destinations, provided a massive tourism boost throughout the region.

Since the establishment of the base, Ryanair has been seeking to cooperate with the tourism department of the Comunitat Valenciana with a view to promoting the region across Europe. At the same time as the Comunitat Valenciana was telling Ryanair that no funds were available for such cooperative activity, they were granting a €12m award of marketing support to the local airline, Air Nostrum, who delivered neither growth nor international passengers to the region. Furthermore, the Comunitat Valenciana ignored Ryanair’s request for engagement on these important promotional issues and indeed more recently turned down all reasonable requests for meetings.

This blanket refusal to engage with the largest low fares and fastest growing airline in Europe, contrasts sharply with the attitude of the vast majority of other government and regional tourist authorities throughout Europe who actively seek Ryanair’s business at their airports. This recognition of the ability of Ryanair to deliver tourism growth contrasts sharply with the negative attitude which the airline encountered in Valencia.

Ryanair’s Deputy Chief Executive, Michael Cawley, said:

“This is a very black day for the airport of Valencia and the city and region which it serves. Ryanair had begun to transform this once overlooked region of Spanish tourism into a powerhouse of growth and development. Without any assistance or cooperation from the local tourism board, Ryanair has already shown the possibilities which are uniquely available through its low fares. However, the naked subsidisation by the Comunitat Valenciana of competitor airlines at the expense of Ryanair and the refusal by the same party to engage in any meaningful discussion with Ryanair have meant that continuation of our base at the airport is untenable. We have already received numerous enquiries right across Europe and we will be announcing a new base elsewhere next week with these two aircraft.

We will maintain limited operations to Valencia Airport from other bases and should the Comunitat Valenciana wish to engage with Ryanair in the future, we would be prepared to commence sensible discussions and indeed if conditions were appropriate to even recommence a base operation at Valencia.”

[Nightflight]

Und genau das ist der Grund warum es so wichtig ist in NRN in Zukunft noch andere Airlines stationiert zu haben... Ein verlässlicher Partner sieht jedenfalls anders aus und läuft nicht gleich beleidigt davon wenn mal nicht nach seiner Pfeife getanzt wird...

[Weseler]

vielleicht wird die Strecke dann gegen Madrid eingetauscht, im Sommer wäre auch Ibiza nicht schlecht!

[Nightflight]

Das glaube ich nicht - zumindest vorerst nicht. Valencia wird ex NRN mit Sicherheit erstmal weiterhin bedient. Interessant wäre allerdings zu wissen wo RYR die frei gewordenen Flieger einsetzen wird...

[Weseler]

stimmt, ruhig alle nach NRN

[Oliver]

....noch haben wir nicht Mai 2009, also abwarten..
Olli

[Oliver]

Seltsam das Valencia immer noch als Flugziel auf der FR Site drin steht,von wo aus wir den das noch angeflogen?

OLli

[tosch19]

Z.B. im Sowwer von Weeze
Es werden dort nur die Flugzeuge abgezogen die von anderen Basen angebotenen Strecken bleiben Bestehen

[Oliver]

?? Hatte mein posting eigentlich gelöscht........... Aber trotzdem thx.

Olli