Ryanair is expanding its network from Birmingham airport with seven new routes for next summer.
More than 350 flights a week will operate in summer 2023, including new twice-weekly connections to destinations such as Billund, Girona, Pisa, Santander, Stockholm, Toulouse and Venice.
Additional frequencies from Birmingham are also being added on ten other routes, including Bergamo, Dublin, Madrid, Palma, Porto and Verona as part of a total network covering 42 destinations.
The no-frills carrier is to base a sixth Boeing 737 at the airport as part of the expansion.
Ryanair chief executive Eddie Wilson repeated the airline’s call on the government to abolish all Air Passenger Duty.
He said: “This additional aircraft will enable Ryanair to operate this exciting 42-route schedule, becoming the leading airline at Birmingham airport.
“The rapid post-Covid growth Ryanair has delivered to Birmingham – circa 50% more routes than pre-Covid – has been secured by the airport’s management team, who recognised a long-term deal with Europe’s biggest and most reliable airline was the only way to drive recovery and growth.
“However, if we are to continue to grow and to drive recovery and connectivity to the UK, prime minister Sunak must immediately scrap APD in full for all travel, not just domestic travel, and provide incentives for airlines like Ryanair to stimulate growth and recovery for the UK and its regions, such as Birmingham.”