Ryanair Cuts Flights to Morocco as Bordeaux Base Closure Looms

Starting in November, Ryanair’s base at Bordeaux airport will be closed. This is the decision made by the Irish low-cost company. The origin of this decision is the failure of negotiations with Bordeaux airport on the extension of its services, as well as the increase in costs in Bordeaux starting in November 2024. "We are disappointed that Bordeaux airport has not accepted the extension of our low-cost base from November 2024. Due to the increase in costs, we have no other financial alternative than to close our Bordeaux base in November and relocate these aircraft and jobs to less costly bases elsewhere in the Ryanair group’s vast network of airports across Europe," explains Jason McGuinness, Ryanair’s commercial director.

This forced departure from Bordeaux airport will result in the loss of 40 Ryanair routes to and from Bordeaux. Flights to Morocco (Agadir, Fez, Marrakech and Tangier) will be affected. Another consequence: the loss of more than 90 jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers based in Bordeaux. The company has already informed all Ryanair pilots and cabin crew based in Bordeaux (currently employed by Malta Air) of the closure of its base from November 2024. "All these aviation professionals will be offered similar positions in other attractive bases across the Ryanair group network," the low-cost company says. As for the three aircraft based in Bordeaux, it has decided to move them to less costly airports elsewhere in Europe.

For Jason McGuinness, "Bordeaux’s loss will be a gain for other airports across Europe." "And we have already started discussions with our pilots, cabin crew and engineers based in Bordeaux to offer them similar positions in other attractive Ryanair bases across Europe from November 2024," he added.