Ryanair has announced an investment of over $1 billion at Edinburgh Airport that will support 300 aviation jobs and 3,000 indirect jobs — and unveiled its biggest ever summer schedule at the airport.
Ryanair’s Edinburgh based fleet will increase by two to 10, five of which will be Boeing 737 8-200 “Gamechanger” aircraft which deliver 4% more seats, burn 16% less fuel and create 40% less noise emissions.
Ryanair’s biggest ever Edinburgh schedule will deliver 65 total routes including eight new destinations to Bari, Cork, Madrid, Marrakesh, Nimes, Palermo, Paris, and Santiago de Compostela.
The Dublin company will operate 250 weekly flights for Summer 2022 — 50 more than pre pandemic Summer 2019.
Ryanair’s Director of Commercial Jason McGuinness said: “This larger fleet will deliver 65 routes in total, including 8 new routes to exciting destinations such as Nimes, Marrakesh, and Zadar along with increased frequencies to holiday favourites such as Malaga and Alicante.
“Efficient operations and competitive airport charges provide the foundation from which Ryanair can deliver long-term traffic growth and increased connectivity.
“We worked closely with our partners in Edinburgh airport to secure this growth and improve the services for those that live, work, or wish to visit the region.
“Ryanair now calls on the UK Government to further support this traffic recovery by scrapping APD completely.
“The 50% reduction proposed for 2023 is too little, too late for post-covid recovery since APD puts UK airports at a severe cost disadvantage versus their European competitors.
To celebrate our largest Summer schedule, we are launching a 3-day seat sale with fares available from £19.99 for travel until October 2022, which must be booked by Friday 18th February.
“Since these amazing low fares will be snapped up quickly, customers should log onto www.ryanair.com to avoid missing out.”
Edinburgh Airport CEO Gordon Dewar said: “Ryanair’s continued expansion at Edinburgh is extremely encouraging and is a huge show of confidence in the Edinburgh market.
“Aviation will play an important role in the recovery of the Scottish and UK economies and to be in a position where Ryanair are offering more than they did pre-pandemic is a very good place for us to be in, especially when five of the based aircraft will be the quietest and most environmentally friendly in the industry.
“We know there’s a pent-up demand for travel and we want to offer choice to people, which is why we are looking to both retain and grow Edinburgh’s connectivity. We must work with partners including airlines and governments to ensure Scotland is flexible in its approach and is seizing new opportunities that arise.”
The new routes are Bari, Cork, Madrid, Marrakesh, Nimes, Palermo, Paris Beauvais and Santiago de Compostela.