Ryanair adds five new routes to Charleroi

14 December 2005

BRUSSELS — Ryanair is to add five new destinations to its Charleroi Airport services starting in April 2006.

The destinations are Malaga and Valencia in Spain, Nimes in France, Faro in Portugal and Salzburg in Austria.

It is hoped the new routes will boost annual passenger numbers by 250,000, bringing the airline’s annual traffic at Charleroi to 2.3 million. It will base a fourth aircraft at the airport.

Ryanair boss Michel O’Leary and Wallonian Aviation Minister André Antoine announced the plans at a joint press conference on Wednesday.

The Irish budget airline has also signed a new contract with the Charleroi Airport, newspaper, De Standaard’ reported. The contract will bind Ryanair and Charleroi together for the next 10 years.

Meanwhile, O’Leary said Ryanair still expected to deliver a 10 percent rise in net profit for the current year. “We see no reason to change any of those forecasts,” he said.

Ryanair said in November that it expected full year net profit before one-off items to reach EUR 295 million.

Subject: Belgian news