Ryanair announces Barcelona Girona expansion

Ryanair today (Wednesday, 2nd April 2008) announced that it will add 5 new aircraft at its Barcelona Girona base as part of a major expansion that will increase Ryanair’s Girona routes to 75 and passenger numbers to 8 million per annum by 2012.

These 8 million passengers will save €800m compared to Iberia’s high fares and fuel surcharges at Barcelona El Prat and will generate a visitor spend of €1.2bn p.a. in the Catalan region.

Announcing today’s Girona expansion, Ryanair’s Deputy CEO Michael Cawley said;

"Ryanair started flying from Barcelona Girona, our first Spanish airport, in 2002 and the partnership has been a phenomenal success, bringing Europe’s guaranteed lowest fares to millions of Catalans and providing the region with millions of visitors from all over Europe.

"This expansion will see Ryanair’s investment at the airport rise to 14 aircraft worth $1bn. This will support 8,000 jobs in the region, including 500 highly paid Ryanair pilot, cabin crew and engineering positions.

"We congratulate the Catalan region’s success in securing this low cost agreement against robust competition from other low cost, efficient European airports which will now place business and tourism throughout Catalonia on a fast track for growth".