Ryanair to axe 25% of routes from capital

RYANAIR is to axe more than a quarter of its routes from Scotland's busiest airport this winter to cut costs because of high oil prices.

The no-frills airline will not fly to nine of the 32 European destinations it offered from Edinburgh last winter. A total of 20 of its 100 flights a week from the airport will be cut. They include Berlin, Malta, Marrakesh, Tallinn and Turin.

A similar reduction is expected to be announced next Tuesday for Prestwick, Ryanair's other base in Scotland, the airline told The Scotsman. The moves follow the carrier announcing on Monday it would ground 80 of its aircraft this winter.

Head of sales and marketing Lesley Kane said the UK government's air passenger duty was another factor: "High oil prices will significantly affect our costs this winter.

"Winter route and capacity cuts are expected at the majority of Ryanair bases. UK airports also continue to suffer from high tourist taxes, which continue to make Scottish destinations uncompetitive."

An Edinburgh Airport spokesman said: "We're confident we will continue to add routes and mirror the growth from this year."