MADRID (Reuters) – Irish low-cost airline Ryanair wants to open five new bases in Spain and grow 40% in the country by 2030, the group’s biggest carrier Ryanair DAC said on Tuesday. CEO Eddie Wilson spoke in Madrid on Monday. .
He told reporters at a tourism event that the group aims to increase the number of passengers to Spain from an expected 55 million to 77 million in 2024, but to do so Spain will need to improve its competitive airport fares. He said that it is necessary to set up
On Thursday, Transport Minister Oscar Puente said airport operator Aena’s 4.09% fare increase in March was “unforgiving” and said fares would still be below pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
Mr Wilson said Ryanair had decided to invest in Spain because it was certain there would be no price increases until 2026-2027.
“We believe that this 4% fee needs to be lifted, but we also need to incentivize the regions of Spain, so that they can increase the number of tourists, not only to the beaches and coasts, but also in the 12 months of the year. ” he said. Added.
The group’s CEO Michael O’Leary met Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on January 12 and announced that the Iberian Peninsula, one of the world’s most visited countries, will receive €5 billion over the next seven years. ($5.44 billion).
(Reporting by Corina Pons and Emma Pinedo; Writing by David Latona; Editing by Inti Landauro and Andrei Khalip)