Ryanair is returning to Aberdeen with 2 new routes to Alicante and Malaga starting in February 2017, which the airline claims will deliver 50,000 customers each year. at Aberdeen International.

In Aberdeen, Ryanair’s Head of Communications, Robin Kiely said: 

“We are pleased to announce our return to Aberdeen as we launch two new routes to Alicante and Malaga, beginning in February and operating twice weekly, which will help deliver 50,000 annual customers at Aberdeen Airport. We look forward to working closely with the team at Aberdeen Airport to deliver more routes, traffic and growth in the future.

While these routes are ideal for holidaymakers, APD remains a continuing barrier to inbound tourism and the development of business routes in Scotland. One need only look at the example of Ireland which saw its annual traffic fall by 7m following the introduction of APD in 2009, only to dramatically rise following its removal in 2014. Ryanair has already confirmed to the Scottish Government the growth opportunities possible if APD is removed in its entirety.”

Aberdeen International Airport Managing Director, Carol Benzie, said:

“This is fantastic news from Ryanair and it clearly demonstrates the opportunity that exists for leisure capacity here in Aberdeen. Earlier this year we undertook a leisure survey in which we asked our local community which destinations they would like to see introduced from their local airport.

“Our route development team took the survey results to the recent Routes Europe conference in Krakow and Ryanair has responded to this data by introducing services to two of the most requested routes, Alicante and Malaga. The twice weekly, year-round services will commence in February 2017 and we look forward to welcoming Ryanair back to Aberdeen.”