Ryanair has this week announced a decision which will involve the cut in flights to Portugal if airport operator ANA rises fees for next year.
It is understood that the carrier will make the following reductions if airport fees rise next year:
- Reduce aircraft based in Madeira by one – Fees rising by 6%.
- Reduce traffic in Faro – Fees rising by 12%.
- Reduce traffic in Porto – Fees rising by 11%.
Without further ado, let’s get into it…
Ryanair Reduces Flights in Portugal Due To Airport Fees…
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Ryanair has attributed these cuts to airport operator ANA, who has the monopoly in Portugal and faces no competition.
The carrier has already made cuts in the likes of Ponta Delgada, Faro & Porto before, with Group CEO Michael O’Leary emphasising this point further:
“There is no justification for the ANA monopoly to increase fees by up to 17% in 2024. The monopoly airport operator seeks even higher fees, on top of Portugal’s already high airport taxes, to further line its pockets at the expense of tourism Portuguese and jobs, especially on Portuguese islands (including Madeira and the Azores) that depend on access and low-cost tourism to survive.”
“Portuguese airports, especially those on the islands, are being harmed by ANA’s monopolistic price increases.”
“As a result of ANA’s price increase in 2023, Ryanair closed its base in Ponta Delgada this winter. If ANA continues with these latest monopoly price increases to 2024, then Ryanair intends to downsize one of its two Madeira-based planes and significantly reduce our schedules to/from Faro and Porto for Summer 2024.”
“The ANA monopoly should follow the example of other major European airports, especially in Spain, and freeze or reduce fees to help stimulate traffic and tourism recovery in Portugal post-Covid.”
“Instead, ANA is harming Portugal’s competitiveness with this excessive and unjustified 17% increase in fares, which will crowd out much-needed tourism growth, especially on the islands of Madeira and the Azores”.
“We call on ANAC to urgently intervene and reverse this increase in monopoly prices, protecting Portugal’s airlines, passengers and island economies from ANA’s excessive monopoly prices, before it is too late.”
All eyes will be on whether Ryanair will win this battle against ANA, as less flights for the Summer 2024 season will hinder the local economies in that area.
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