Ryanair announces the opening of its fifth base in Portugal, continuing the airline’s plans for European expansion.
The Irish ultra-low-cost carrier announced it has invested $200 million into the launch of a new base at Madeira Airport (FNC), Portugal, as part of its summer 2022 schedule.
With the launch of a new hub, Ryanair will expand its European network with 40 flights per week across 10 new routes connecting Madeira with mainland Portugal as well as six other destinations across Europe. These are Brussels Charleroi (CLR), Dublin (DUB), Lisbon (LIS), London Stansted (STN), Manchester (MAN), Marseille (MRS), Milan Bergamo (BGY), Nuremberg (NUE), Paris Beauvais (BVA), Porto (OPO).
“We are delighted to announce the opening of our new base in Madeira, which will deliver increased connectivity [...] This $200m investment will not only boost Portugal’s economy by driving vital tourism but will also create more than 60 direct jobs in the region and over 400 on-site jobs in Madeira,” Ryanair’s CEO Eddie Wilson said in a statement dated November 24, 2021.
The airline also stated by opening the new base, it will serve more than 160 routes from Portugal to 15 countries next summer. Ryanair plans to deploy two passenger aircraft from its FNC hub.
During November 2021, the carrier launched two new hubs in Latvia and Denmark.
From its new base at Riga Airport (RIX), the airline will operate more than 100 departing flights per week to 12 new routes. This will connect Riga with Denmark, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, the UK, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Ukraine, Norway and Hungary including Denmark, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, the UK, Italy, P0oland, Sweden, Ukraine, Norway, and Hungary.
Meanwhile, the new hub at Billund Airport (BLL) is set to boost Ryanair’s network by 14 new summer routes, connecting several European destinations such as Lisbon, Krakow, Ibiza, Madrid, Porto, and Seville.