Ryanair announces an extended summer season operation at Marseille which will see up to two aircraft temporarily overnight at the airport for just over a four month period (14th April until 4th Sept) offering 24 routes and delivering 500,000 passengers at Marseille’s MP2 terminal this summer.

Ryanair closed its Marseille base in January following unjustified legal proceedings which sought to force Ryanair’s Irish crew to pay tax and social insurance in France, despite European Regulations which allow Ryanair’s crews to pay taxes and social insurance in Ireland where they were employed, worked and paid. Ryanair continues to operate 13 routes to Marseille from other Ryanair bases and has taken a case in the European Courts against the French decree.

To celebrate Ryanair’s expanded Marseille summer operations (under which Ryanair will temporarily overnight up to two aircraft in Marseille from 14th April to 4th September) Ryanair released 1m €8 seats for travel in late February and March while Ryanair’s new Marseille routes go on sale on www.ryanair.com tomorrow 2nd Feb.

Speaking today in Marseille, Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said:

“Ryanair is pleased to announce this expanded Marseille summer season operation which will deliver 24 routes (including 11 new routes) and 500,000 passengers to the Provence region this summer.

This summer operation will involve the temporary overnighting of up to two Irish registered aircraft, with Irish crews, on Irish contracts, paying their tax and social insurance in Ireland for a four month period. Ryanair remains committed to Marseille Airport and we look forward to continuing to work with Marseille Airport and the Chamber of Commerce to deliver new routes and new visitors to MP2 from mid-April to early September 2011.”