Ryanair is to base two aircraft to run 11 routes from Marseille this summer despite a row over French employment laws for airline staff.
The no-frills carrier closed its base in the French city last month due to what it described as “unjustified legal proceedings” forcing Irish crew to pay tax and social insurance in France.
Ryanair continues to operate 13 routes to Marseille from other bases and has taken a case in the European Courts against the French legal challenge.
The airline said today it would run an extended summer operation from Marseille which will see up to two aircraft based temporarily overnight at the airport between April 14 and September 4.
There will be 11 new routes run over the summer helping to deliver an estimated 500,000 passengers. The 11 summer destinations are Agadir, Brest, Eindhoven, Fez, Gothenburg, Lille, Marrakesh, Nador, Nantes, Palermo and Tangier. These are in addition to the 13 existing routes which include Stansted and Edinburgh.
Chief executive Michael O’Leary said: “This summer operation will involve the temporary over-nighting of up to two Irish registered aircraft, with Irish crews, on Irish contracts, paying their tax and social insurance in Ireland for a four month period.
“Ryanair remains committed to Marseille airport and we look forward to continuing to work with Marseille airport and the Chamber of Commerce to deliver new routes and new visitors from mid-April to early September 2011.”