Ryanair has been forced to cancel 700 flights to a popular holiday destination this winter.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has warned that the budget airline’s route to Lisbon will face major disruption this winter and has blamed Portuguese airline TAP for blocking take-off and landing slots at airports.
The airline boss slammed TAP for “hoarding” valuable slots at Lisbon airports that Ryanair needed to use for 700 flights across three routes.
He said: “We deeply regret these unnecessary disruptions to passengers from these cancelled flights and routes caused by TAP’s blocking of slots which it is not using. This anti-competitive slot blocking obstructs the growth of airlines and the recovery of traffic, tourism and jobs at Lisbon Portela Airport, to the detriment of Portuguese consumers.”
The airline said it would keep seven aircrafts – a $700m investment – and crew in place in Lisbon this winter to be ready to reinstate all the cancelled flights if sufficient slots are freed.
Michael O’Leary continued: “Ryanair remains committed to working with our airport partner in Lisbon, to support Portugal’s tourism recovery and to rebuild connectivity after the Covid pandemic. We now call on the Portuguese Government and the European Commission to intervene to free up these unused slots at Lisbon Portela Airport and to urgently open Lisbon Montijo Airport. Ryanair will continue to bring millions of new visitors to and from Portugal, investing in tourism and getting travel back to normal, with the widest choice and lowest fares.”
This major cancellation follows Morocco banning flights from the UK, which came into effect on Wednesday, due to soaring Covid rates.
