Ryanair to shut Valencia base

Ryanair today put into practice the threat it issued on October 14 - the airline is pulling the plug on it's Valencia base following the refusal of the Communitat Valenciana to engage in discussions to promote the airport and it's routes across Ryanair network.

The Valencia base which opened in August 2007 will shut on November 4 with the loss of 70 weekly flights into and out of the airport. Ryanair will move it's investment in Valencia to another airport in the network ( not necessarily Spain ) with an announcement due in the next few weeks.

The operation at Valencia had grown to a yield of almost 1.5m which represented 25% of the airport's total passenger load of 6m. With all but 2 of the ten routes to close coming from international routes the closure will have a negative impact on tourism in the region.

According to Ryanair they had been seeking to work with the Tourism Department of the Comunitat Valenciana with a view to promoting the region across Europe. At the same time that the as the Comunitat Valenciana were telling Ryanair that there was no funding available they provided Air Nostrum with a €12m award of marketing support.

The continuing breakdown in communications between the two parties has led to today's announcement which will leave the airport with a limited Stansted service and the closure of the base.