Ryanair pulls plug on Manchester

The relationship between Ryanair and Manchester Airport which has never been the best down the years, would appear to have foundered. The airline announced yesterday that as of October 1 this year it would be closing or switching 9 of the 10 routes served from Manchester to competing airports such as Liverpool, Leeds Bradford and East Midlands. The only route to survive will be that serving Dublin. Shannon will lose it's Manchester connection.

Ryanair has cited Manchester Airport's refusal to drop it's charges to reflect lower passenger fares as the reason for it's proposed departure. The move will displace 600,000 passengers and 44 weekly flights from Manchester.