Ryanair cuts services from Dublin Airport

24/01/2010

By Jeremy Price.

Budget airline Ryanair has confirmed it will cut a fifth of its services from Dublin Airport this summer.

According to the operator, which boasts routes from all major UK airports including Aberdeen and Manchester, rising charges from Dublin Air Authority (DAA) as well as the government's tourist tax has made its operation less profitable.

The total number of passengers flying from the hub is expected to drop from 20 million to 18 million, while weekly rotations will be cut by 19 per cent and 150 jobs will be lost.

Commenting on the move, Michael O'Leary of Ryanair said: "The DAA's high costs and the government's €10 (£8.69) tourist tax have already cost Ireland more than 3m passengers in 2009."

The carrier will set up new bases in Brindisi, Faro, Bari, Oslo Rygge, Malaga and Leeds Bradford airports in 2010, he added.

In related news, Mr O'Leary recently revived the idea of charging passengers to use toilets on Ryanair flights, originally announced last year.