Jason McGuinness, Ryanair’s CCO, as airline expands at Newcastle Airport

Transcript

00:00So Jason, great news today that Ryanair is launching a third aircraft from Newcastle.

00:05What does Newcastle Airport mean to Ryanair?

00:07Well great, I'm very happy to be here in sunny Newcastle this morning.

00:10As you say, great news this morning, we're announcing a third based aircraft in Newcastle from this winter.

00:16So we will have three aircraft based in Newcastle year round.

00:20We're announcing five new routes destinations such as Brussels and Malta this morning

00:25and a 40% growth in traffic this winter.

00:27So Newcastle Airport, very important to Ryanair.

00:30We've been operating here for almost 20 years.

00:33We understand the importance of the airport to the northeast.

00:37So we're very happy to be working with the airport team here, developing connectivity,

00:41but not just that, developing it on a year round basis, which is so important, as I say, to the region.

00:47And there's great jobs creation that comes from announcements like this as well.

00:51Absolutely. So we ourselves will be creating 30 to 40 direct jobs here this morning,

00:57cabin crew and pilots and possibly some engineers, but also it's obviously the indirect jobs benefit

01:02in terms of the local businesses, be it hotels, taxis, restaurants, etc.

01:06So very happy with this. Very good news this morning, as I say.

01:10I have to commend the airport team here.

01:12They understand the competitive airport environment at the moment across Europe.

01:17They are operating, unfortunately, at a disadvantage due to the UK APD tax.

01:22That's the £13 departure tax each passenger pays walking through Newcastle this morning,

01:27which unfortunately is increasing by 15% to £15 from April.

01:31So it is putting regional airports in the UK at a distinct disadvantage versus their competitors across Europe.

01:38We've called on the government to abolish this, particularly for regional UK airports.

01:43Let them compete against other airports across Europe so we can grow connectivity in the north

01:47and the northeast on a year round basis.