"This decision follows the failure of over a year of negotiations with the airport management to secure a competitive cost base that would allow Ryanair to continue expanding its very low-cost flights at Modlin in the winter season of 2024. Ryanair will continue to operate 22 routes to/from Modlin. At the same time, Ryanair will continue to offer 6 low-cost connections to/from Warsaw Chopin Airport for the 2024/25 winter season," Ryanair announced on Thursday, August 15th. The airline has stated that from November 2024, it will reduce traffic at Warsaw-Modlin Airport by 50%.
Ryanair to Reduce Number of Based Aircraft at Modlin, Leading to Job Losses
The airline also informed that part of the current passenger traffic will be transferred to "new routes and new capacity at Chopin Airport." Interestingly, Ryanair plans to continue negotiations with the new management team at Modlin, which will be appointed in mid-September. "However, if an agreement on a competitive cost base, similar to those offered at other airports in Poland, is not reached, Ryanair will not be able to build growth in low-cost connections at Warsaw-Modlin Airport," the statement added.
The announced cuts will lead to a reduction in the number of Ryanair's based aircraft at Modlin from 5 to 4 and the elimination of 50 jobs. "Currently, the airport management is in transition, and there is no one willing to make decisions regarding development until the new management team is appointed," Ryanair's Chief Commercial Officer Jason McGuinness stated in a press release.
Ryanair Representative Explains the Airline's Decision
"We cannot accept these long delays nor bear losses at Modlin during the winter of 2024 (...) while the management tries to impose charges typical of major airports. We regret these cuts, but they will create more growth opportunities at other Polish airports, including Warsaw Chopin Airport, where we welcome the recent government decision to increase capacity to 30 million passengers annually," McGuinness further commented.
Ryanair's Chief Commercial Officer added that the company looks forward to the appointment of the new team at Modlin and hopes to reach an agreement quickly. The airline intends to reverse the introduced cuts in the future and return to growth in traffic and employment in the summer season of 2025.
