GLASGOW Airport has hailed the move by Ryanair to reintroduce four routes from the hub next year, just months after the Irish airline slashed its presence at the airport.

The Dublin-based carrier will recommence flights to Alicante, Malaga, Charleroi and Warsaw in spring in a move described by Glasgow managing director Mark Johnston as “very welcome news indeed”. It comes after Ryanair took the decision in February to shut its base at Glasgow Airport and dramatically scale back the number of flights from the airport, from 23 to just three.

Although four new routes will be reintroduced from next summer, taking the total number Ryanair operates at Glasgow to seven, no Ryanair aircraft will be based at the airport.

Mr Johnston said: “Ryanair’s decision to bring back what were four popular routes is very welcome news indeed. The introduction of these services is hopefully a first step to Ryanair re-establishing a strong presence here and we are really pleased the airline recognises our position as the West of Scotland’s principal airport and gateway to the region’s huge market.”

Mr Johnston noted that Ryanair had cited its frustration over the lack of progress in cutting Air Passenger Duty (APD) in Scotland in its decision to close its base at Glasgow. He called on the governments in Edinburgh to break the “deadlock” on the issue, which centres on Holyrood’s commitment to retaining the Highlands and Islands’ exemption from the tax. Holyrood requires legislative consent from the EU to retain the exemption, however because Scotland’s membership of the EU is through the UK it requires Westminster to seek the approval. APD would ultimately be replaced by the new Air Departure Tax in Scotland when a breakthrough to the impasse is reached.

Mr Johnston said: “This regressive tax continues to put the country’s air services at risk and action must be taken to address this.”