Ryanair plans to base two additional aircraft at Edinburgh Airport this summer bringing the total to 10.
The Irish low-cost carrier said the move represents an additional $200 million investment as well as its biggest schedule at the airport to date.
Ryanair will operate 65 routes from Edinburgh with eight new destinations including Bari, Madrid, Marrakesh and Paris.
The airline also called on the UK Government to abolish Airport Passenger Duty (APD) immediately to ¡°deliver more growth and recovery in Edinburgh.¡±
Jason McGuinness, director of commercial, Ryanair, said: ¡°Efficient operations and competitive airport charges provide the foundation from which?Ryanair?can deliver long-term traffic growth and increased connectivity. We worked closely with our partners in Edinburgh airport to secure this growth and improve the services for those that live, work, or wish to visit the region.
¡°Ryanair?now calls on the UK Government to further support this traffic recovery by scrapping APD completely. The 50 per cent reduction proposed for 2023 is too little, too late for post-covid recovery since APD puts?UK airports at a severe cost disadvantage versus their European competitors.¡±
Gordon Dewer, CEO, Edinburgh Airport, said:?"Ryanair's continued expansion at Edinburgh is extremely encouraging and is a huge show of confidence in the Edinburgh market. Aviation will play an important role in the recovery of the Scottish and UK economies and?to be in a position where?Ryanair?are offering more than they did pre-pandemic is a very good place for us to be in, especially when five of the based aircraft will be the quietest and most environmentally friendly in the industry.¡±