Ryanair to cease operations at Niederrhein ?

On Wednesday of this week (April 22), Ryanair announced that it had ceased taking bookings for flights originating or arriving at Dusseldorf-Weeze (Niederrhein) airport affected by the decision of the Oberwervaltungsgericht (OVG) Court in Munster to limit the hours of operation at the airport. The airline said that it would review the situation with the airport and it's lawyers but confirmed that the base will close if the decision is not overturned by Wednesday next, April 29. 

Ryanair currently have 6 aircraft based at the airport and reckon that up to 2,500 jobs in the region depend on the Ryanair services to and from the airport. Weeze airport is located at the former RAF base of Laarburch and has been in civil operation since 2003. It's location is such that the south east Netherlands is better served by the airport than Dusseldorf proper.

In the past year Ryanair have shown a willingness to  pull out of airports where the local authorities have failed to live up to the airline's expectation so this week's threat cannot be taken idly.

Posted 090424