Despite the financial hit of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Ryanair has announced it will open its fourth base in France at the Paris-Beauvais Airport from 3 December 2020.
The Irish budget carrier already boasts braces in Toulouse, Marseille Provence and Bordeaux, however will now base two aircraft out of BVA, situated 85 kilometres outside the centre of Paris.
The new base will operate 32 routes to 13 countries, and see Ryanair add two new routes to its network – linking Paris to both Paphos in Cyprus and Manchester in the UK.
Ryanair has said the venture comes at a $200 million investment.
Commenting on the announcement, BVA board chairman François Rubichon said, “Paris-Beauvais Airport is delighted for this achievement and to see such a mark of confidence from our first airline partner, the leading European carrier, Ryanair.
“Our historic relationship has been strengthened and is now evolving to a new dimension with this operational base, its jobs and the potential developments it will allow, especially in such challenging times for air transport.
“Finally, Paris-Beauvais airport is the first base announced by Ryanair in Europe since the beginning of the crisis and materialises the hard work carried out for several months between SAGEB and Ryanair teams.
“All the employees and partners are looking forward to welcome the first two aircraft and its crews on the 3rd December 2020.”
Meanwhile, Ryanair director of commercial Jason McGuinness said, “We are delighted to announce a $200 million investment at Ryanair’s fourth French base in Paris Beauvais Airport.
“This development will create over 2,300 direct and indirect jobs at a time when other airlines, including Air France retrench and reduce capacity and investment, despite receiving €7 billion in discriminatory State Aid.
“We are also pleased to announce the launch of our Paris Beauvais winter schedule, with 32 routes in total, including two new services to Paphos and Manchester (both twice weekly) and connections to exciting business and leisure destinations such as Barcelona, Milan, Faro and Thessaloniki,” McGuinness concluded.
The development comes just two weeks after Ryanair decided to shutter its Dusseldorf base, citing the deterioration of negotiations over “outrageous” airport and ground handling fees.
