Ryanair has blamed Government taxes for its decision to cut winter capacity across UK airports by 16% from November.
The largest cut will be at London Stansted where capacity is being slashed by 17%.
Last winter, Ryanair removed two aircraft at Stansted and will take away another two this winter, leaving a total of 22. At the peak of its business, it operated 30 aircraft from the London airport.
Ryanair said it will switch these London-based aircraft to other European bases where governments have scrapped tourist taxes.
It is also cutting winter flights at most of its other UK bases, except Edinburgh and Leeds Bradford.
Michael O’Leary, who announced the plans at a press conference yesterday wearing a Germany football shirt, said: “Sadly UK traffic and tourism continues to collapse while Ryanair continues to grow rapidly in those countries which welcome tourists instead of taxing them.
“Ryanair’s 16% UK capacity cutback, 17% cut at Stansted, shows just how much the UK’s tourist tax and the BAA’s high airport charges are damaging UK tourism and the British economy generally.
“Today’s cutbacks underline the urgent need to break-up the high cost BAA Airport monopoly, as recommended by the Competition Commission, and scrap the damaging £11 tourist tax which has caused UK traffic to collapse over the past two years.â€
By Bev Fearis
