New routes hope for Blackpool Airport
NO-FRILLS airline Ryanair could be jetting off on an east European revolution.
Bosses at the Blackpool-bound carrier are hoping to draw back the former Iron Curtain as it expands its business from the resort.
The airline, which has three routes from Blackpool International Airport, revealed eastern Europe could be its next money-spinning destination.
Ryanair's Karl Hogstadius said the company is currently talking to more than 50 European airports with the hope of adding more routes to its expansion plans.
The airline currently flies daily to London Stansted, Dublin and Girona-Barcelona from Blackpool International Airport at Squires Gate.
And with the Dublin-based airline in the process of buying a further 100 Boeing jets, the company wants to double its passenger intake to 70m every year.
Mr Hogstadius, the UK sales and marketing manager, said: "We are looking at many more destinations to add to our portfolio and of course Blackpool is part of our plans.
"In the past year we have flown around 280,000 passengers from the resort and we have been told that for every 1,000 passengers flown from the terminal, an extra job is created in the resort.
"We are delighted with the flights from Blackpool and we have high hopes for the future. We want to be part of the masterplan and want to take even more travellers to and from Blackpool to experience more European cities."
Ryanair has recently opened a base in the southern city of Marseille in France and is in negotiations to expand its franchise to Poland within the next year.
Last year, Ryanair flew around 35m passengers to countries across northern Europe and hope to increase this to 42m by the end of 2006.
Mr Hogstadius added: "At the moment everything is possible and we are interested in expanding the company into the Polish market and eastern Europe.
"I think being in Blackpool helps boost the tourism in the resort. We fly to two of the major cities in northern Europe, London and Dublin, and we are always interested in adding more."
Gareth Kennedy, director of business development at Blackpool International Airport, said: "Ryanair is well established in Blackpool and serve three very popular destinations.
"We are working with the airline all the time and would welcome any new services to Blackpool."
nick.hyde@blackpoolgazette.co.uk
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Preston
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 14 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
