Budget airline Ryanair has stated that it intends to ask the Valencian government to explain why it has not taken any measures to stop the descent of the number of passengers using Manises airport, which it estimates to be a drop of some 80,000 people, and the loss of eight million euros of tourist income after it closed its Valencia base last November.

Luis Fernandez-Mellado, the director of Marketing for the airline for Spain stated that, in his opinion, the number of passengers using Manises this year would drop considerably and 750 jobs across the Valencian Community would be lost, resulting in losses for Valencian industry he estimated to be in the region of  34 million euros.

Ryanair accuses Valencia govt. of deceiving passengers
By: valencialife.net
Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Budget airline Ryanair issued a statement yesterday that seems almost certain to stir up great controversy in the PP-led regional government of Valencia. Headed 'The Valencian Community Deceives Passengers', with the opening sentence stating that Ryanair has confirmed that regional Tourism boss, Angelica Such, has deceived passengers by stating that the airline will be operating again in Valencia from next Spring.

Ryanair vice-president, Michael Cawley, added: "This is just another example of the Valencian government trying to justify its disastrous anti-commercial comportment. The Tourism Department has refused to  commit itself to Ryanair whilst it hands 16 million euros to our competitor Air Nostrum, which has hardly helped the growth at Valencia Airport over the last two years. The minister knows that Ryanair will not return to open its base or increase its operations in Valencia until the government becomes aware of the reality that it is totally erroneous to fuel hopes of people over the return of the low tariff airline without having first undertaken the necessary commitment to promote the routes in conjunction with Ryanair. Without this cooperation, there will never be a passenger increase in Valencia that can only be guaranteed thanks to the low rates offered by Ryanair."

Ryanair to close Valencia base
By: thinkSPAIN
Saturday, October 25, 2008

Ryanair calculates that their decision to close its base at Valencia's Manises airport will cost around 750 jobs given that more than seventy flights a week, and roughly three quarter of a million international passengers each year, will be lost to the region as a result.

Speaking yesterday, Ryanair spokesman, Michael Cawley, blamed the regional government for the company's decision, alleging that it has been paying marketing subsidies to rival firm Air Nostrum, and accusing it of repeatedly refusing to meet to discuss a series of conditions that would enable the continued growth in international passenger traffic through the airport.

"This is a very black day for Valencia airport, the city and the region it serves," said Mr Cawley. "Even without the cooperation of the regional Tourism ministry, Ryanair has demonstrated the possibilities which are uniquely available through its low fares."

The Irish budget airline has been operating flights from Valencia to ten European destinations since last summer, but these will be cancelled from November 4th.

The sixty people directly employed by the company will be offered the opportunity to relocate when the aircraft they support are switched to another base.