Ryanair to open 19 new routes from the Girona Airport after an agreement is reached with the Catalan Government

Barcelona (ACN).- The Irish low cost airline has confirmed it will once again have a major presence at the Girona-Costa Brava Airport, with the announcement of 19 new routes starting in the Spring. At a press conference in Barcelona on Tuesday Ryanair’s Vice President Michael Cawley said that the company will be operating a total of 59 routes through Girona Airport, located about 100 kilometres of Barcelona. The airline expects to transport 3 million passengers this year through Girona; however, it will still be far from the 6 million passengers transported two years ago. Cawley said he did not know when these figures might be reached once again, as “back then we did not have operations from Barcelona-El Prat”. Tuesday’s announcement means that Ryanair puts an end to last year’s threats to abandon Girona, which were discussed in 10-month long negotiations with the Catalan Government to renew a sponsoring contract. The new contract was announced in November by the Irish company and the Catalan Government. Ryanair’s Vice-President was satisfied with the new agreement: “It’s not 100% our agreement, it’s not 100% the Government’s agreement, so it’s probably a good agreement” he said ironically. Ryanair will base 9 of its planes in Girona, increasing by five the number based there. Around 3,000 jobs at Girona Airport and in the province will depend on Ryanair’s presence, according to Cawley.

In the domestic market, Ryanair will connect Girona with Madrid everyday, with one flight in the morning and one in the evening. Furthermore, it will fly to Ibiza four times per week. Internationally, Ryanair will link Girona with 17 new destinations: Düsseldorf (Germany), Aarhus (Denmark), Turku (Finland), Poitiers (France), Thessaloniki (Greece), Cork (Ireland), Knock (Ireland), Cagliari (Italy), Perugia (Italy), Nador (Morocco), Bydgoszcz (Poland), Krakow (Poland), Gdansk (Poland), Doncaster (United Kingdom), Skelftea (Sweden), Malmo (Sweden), and Stockholm (Sweden). From January 11^th tickets will be sold, and flights will start to operate between March 25^th and April 6^th.