RYANAIR SAID it was temporarily closing bases at seven airports in Europe and cutting back on the number of flights from Stansted airport this winter as part of a cost-cutting programme.
The low fares airline blamed high airport costs and record oil prices for its decision to halt operations for more than a month at Basel, Budapest, Krakow, Palma, Rzeszow, Salzburg and Valencia.
Costs at these airports are among the most expensive in Europe and far outweigh the potential revenue which passengers are prepared to pay, particularly during the off-peak winter period, the airline said.
With oil at $140 a barrel and fares lower in winter, it said it was forced to reduce flights at more expensive airports.
Ryanair said it had written to the airports seeking a reduction on the costs of flights from these airports this winter but their response was wholly inadequate.
"A combination of high airport charges and the massive increases which we face in fuel prices, makes it more profitable for Ryanair to ground aircraft rather than fly them at these airports during this period," said Ryanair's deputy chief executive Michael Cawley
