Ryanair takes 10 planes to Italy instead of UK after EU vote

Ryanair is adding 10 new aircraft to its Italian network in a move that scales back growth in the UK after its vote to exit the EU. The move follows Italian PM Matteo Renzi’s decision Wednesday to scrap a planned increase in municipal taxes on airline tickets and a relaxation of restrictions on the use of regional airports, in line with EU rules. Ryanair initially planned to base the planes in the UK. The new Boeing Co. 737s will add 3m travellers a year on 44 routes serving Rome, Milan and smaller Italian cities. The extra capacity will lift Ryanair’s annual Italian passenger tally to about 35m next year, the carrier said. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary credited Italy’s government with taking steps to improve the country’s competitiveness. “All of this growth would have been lost to other EU countries if the municipal tax increase had not been reversed and the airport guidelines had not been redrafted to comply with EU rules,” he said. Ryanair has said it will move about 50 jets due for delivery this year to markets other than the UK to offset the impact of an expected travel slump after the Brexit vote and the drop in the value of the pound. The airline cut prices 10% in the latest quarter to try to fill seats, a task that was made more difficult by a string of terror attacks in Europe.<br/>