Ryanair has confirmed that it has applied for slots to base nine aircraft at Berlin Tegel.

The new planes will be in addition to the nine Ryanair aircraft based at Berlin Schonefeld.

The low-cost carrier believes that the validity of easyJet’s attempt to take control of the assets is “questionable”.

In turn, Ryanair said it looked forward to confirmation from the relevant authorities that Berlin will be open to competition for the benefit of consumers and visitors alike.

Ryanair’s planned investment would deliver an additional 3,750 on-site jobs and bring even more tourists/visitors to Berlin, while connecting the German capital with additional destinations on the lowest fares.

Ryanair chief commercial officer, David O’Brien, said: “Ryanair has applied for slots at Berlin Tegel and is prepared to invest up to $1 billion in additional Berlin aircraft and double its Berlin traffic to ten million over the next 18 months.

“We look forward to confirmation of the necessary slots in due course which would replace approximately 30 per cent of lost airberlin capacity at Tegel with new low fare Ryanair routes.

“Additionally, Ryanair calls on the Berlin authorities to respect the vote of the Berlin people and keep Tegel open if and when Brandenburg eventually opens, so that Berlin has the connectivity and capacity a capital city of its stature deserves.”