Ryanair announces new base at Kaunas

Ryanair has announced plans to open its 40th (and first Central European) base at Kaunas (Lithuania’s second largest city) in May with 2 based aircraft and 18 routes (9 new). 

Ryanair’s new base will deliver up to one million passengers per annum and sustain 1,000 jobs at Kaunas with over 120 weekly flights as Ryanair invests over $140 million at Kaunas Airport.
 
Ryanair also confirmed that it is in continuous negotiation with four other Central European airports to open new bases.

Ryanair celebrated its new Kaunas base by releasing 1 million €5 seats for travel on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays on over 500 routes across its European network, in March. These €5 seats are available for booking on ryanair.com until midnight Thursday (11th February).
 
In Kaunas today, Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said:
 
“Ryanair is delighted to announce Kaunas as our 40th base with 18 routes from May 2010 which will be on sale on ryanair.com. Lithuanian consumers/visitors can beat the recession by choosing Ryanair’s lowest fares and our no fuel surcharge guarantee to 18 exciting destinations all over Europe including Germany, Italy and Spain among others.  Ryanair’s one million passengers per annum will sustain up to 1,000 jobs at Kaunas Airport.”