VLC to close ?

Just appeared on the FR site :

Valencia Base May Close Due to Regional Government’s Failures

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline, today (14th Oct) announced that it may be forced to close its Valencia base following the failure of Regional Government (Conselleria de Turisme) to reply to Ryanair’s proposal on how to ensure the continued growth of passengers at Valencia and their repeated failure to meet with Ryanair.

Ryanair has set a deadline of this coming Friday, 17th Oct for a response from the Government before it makes its final decision on the future of its base at Valencia airport.

Since Ryanair began flying to Valencia in 2004 annual passenger numbers have increased each year. Ryanair currently operates 22 international routes to and from Valencia, all of which are at risk if Ryanair must close all operations to/from Valencia.

Ryanair is the largest airline flying to Valencia but, despite its importance to the local economy, the government has opted to support other airlines who have not provided a fraction of the growth which Ryanair has to the airport. Instead it has chosen to ignore all efforts by Ryanair to collaborate in ensuring the continued growth in passenger traffic at the airport.

Speaking today, Ryanair’s Deputy Chief Executive, Michael Cawley, said:

“Ryanair has once again proven that it is the lowest fares, best punctuality and fewest lost bags that passengers really want. That is why over one and a half million passengers will choose Ryanair this year to travel to/from Valencia. It is madness that the Regional Government is risking the livelihoods of the tourism industry by ignoring our repeated attempts to meet with them.

Ryanair calls on the Regional Government of Valencia to act in the best interest of all those living and working in Valencia and to meet with Ryanair to agree the terms under which we can continue to grow traffic and passenger numbers with all its consequential economic and social benefits.”

Yep, this is the continuation of the disagreement Ryanair and the Valencia Government had earlier this summer. The result was the grounding of their two based aircraft for November and most of December!
To me this would be a fatal change to the Ryanair network. I really like the Valencia base and am set to say farewell on Monday, as it could be my last time there...

But let us not give up our hope, that they might come up with a solution by Friday, the day of the deadline.

Problem with VLC is not yet solved, and Friday is soon to arrive !



News Release
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

16.10.08
Ryanair Confirms Friday 17th Oct as Decision Date on Valencia Base


Ryanair, Europe’s leading low fares airline, today, (16th Oct), confirmed that it would close its base at Valencia if it had received no response from the Communidad Valenciana by Friday, 17th October.

Ryanair has met with the tourism authorities on a number of occasions and has had discussions with the Tourism Minister in June 2008. A detailed proposal was sent to the Minister in early July and, despite numerous requests subsequently, no response to this proposal has been received by the airline. Most recently attempts to secure meetings in Madrid and Toledo have met with a negative reply. Now Ryanair seeks to bring a final conclusion to these proceedings and has told the Communidad that, unless it receives a response to its proposals, which are now three months old, by Friday, 17th October, it will close its base at Valencia.

What exactly is the problem between Ryanair and Valencia ?
Ryanair has not made it really clear, but here is some light from "Aviation Week" :

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=comm&id=news/RYAN10158.xml&headline=Ryanair%20Ups%20Pressure%20On%20Valencia