Ryanair is starting eight new routes from Edinburgh to mainland Europe plus the Canaries for its winter season – bringing its services from the Scottish capital from 19 to 26 routes, a 42% increase. The airline is also extending its summer routes to/from Malta and Rome (Ciampino).

The services from Edinburgh will operate to Barcelona (Girona), Brussels (Charleroi), Gdansk, Memmingen (Munich West), Oslo (Torp), Gran Canaria, Lanzarote,  and Tenerife commence on 30 October. It will carry 2m passengers through the airport this year, which will sustain 2,000 local jobs.

The airline says the winter schedule will concentrate on outbound winter sun and city breaks and are aim to combat the UK government’s £11 tourist tax continues to devastate inbound UK tourism and visitor numbers.

Ryanair’s Head of Sales and Marketing, Lesley Kane, said: “Ryanair and Edinburgh today celebrate eight new winter routes and 2m passengers p.a. With a total of 26 low fare routes from Edinburgh this winter passengers can beat the recession by flying at Ryanair’s guaranteed lowest fares and no fuel surcharges to exciting destinations all over Europe. Ryanair’s passengers will sustain 2,000 local jobs in Edinburgh and its surrounding regions.”