Ryanair has officially opened its newest base in Spain, at Barcelona El Prat.

The low cost airline will base eight aircraft at El Prat operating 23 routes and an expected 2.5 million passenger per annum, which will help reverse declining traffic at El Prat airport which fell by 3m passengers in 2009.

Ryanair’s El Prat routes will sustain over 2,500 local jobs as well as 400 direct Ryanair jobs among pilots, cabin crew and engineers.

Ryanair will operate over 400 weekly low fare flights to/from Barcelona El Prat in an investment of over $550 million in the airport.

“Ryanair is pleased to officially open its 42nd base at Barcelona El Prat with 23 new routes and 2.5m passengers p.a. which will allow El Prat airport to tap into the low fares market, which is the only market which continues to grow – thanks to Ryanair’s low fares, for the first time,” said Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary. “Barcelona consumers and visitors can beat the recession by choosing Ryanair’s low fares on 23 exciting routes from El Prat to destinations all over Europe including France, Italy and Germany among others.”