The commercial director of Ryanair, Jason McGuiness, together with the president of the Regional Government, Miguel Albuquerque, agreed to intensify efforts in order to preassure ANA/Vinci not to apply “unjustifiable and excessive” surge in airport taxes that affect the tourism and the economy.
The new decision has been confirmed by McGuiness and came following a meeting held with McGuiness.
The meeting came following the announcement of Ryanair to reduce the carrier’s plans based in Madeira from two to one, starting next year.
Besides, according to the Portugal News report, the carrier will also reduce traffic in Faro and Porto starting next year due to the increase in airport fees by ANA/Vinci.
McGuiness considered that the president of the Madeiran government is in line with the company, with the objective of cooperating in this regard.
He argued that the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) should intervene in this case and urge Vinci not to increase fees but to reduce them instead.
It is necessary to reduce taxes in Madeira to grow tourism and the economy
The commercial director of Ryanair considered that it was time to take control of the airport for the people of Madeira.
We want to double tourism numbers in Portugal in the next five years. We want to increase the number of planes to Madeira. Our plan was to go from two to five planes.
In addition, he said that starting from January next year, Ryanair will make a 50 per cent reduction from the two to one aircraft based in Madeira, while stressing that three routes would be cancelled, or more specifically: Nuremberg, Bergamo, and Marseille.
He also said that the company transported a total of 700,000 passengers on the Madeira route, which, according to him, is expected to reduce to 400,000 next year, thus reducing the frequency from ten daily connections to seven.
Our plan was to grow, but, unfortunately, they have an airport owner who continues to increase fees. This is not viable in the context in which airports are reducing fees.
In October, ANA unfolded plans to increase charges by an average of 14.6 per cent across its airports, thus accounting for an average increase of €1.60 ($1.74). Lisbon airport would experience the most significant increase at nearly 17 per cent. At the same time, Porto’s fees will see an 11.9 per cent increase.
Besides, an 11.4 per cent increase was also announced in Faro, 7.9 per cent at Madeira, 8.8 per cent at Beja, and 7.5 per cent at the Azores.
