UP TO 2,000 new jobs could be created after Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary announced a raft of new routes from Manchester Airport.
Mr O’Leary said 20 new routes will be added to the existing six operated from Manchester, to be opened by summer, 2012, and delivering up to 2m passengers a year.
But he added the expansion would not damage trade at Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport, which he said was continuing to expand.
New routes from the Irish air carrier from Manchester include flights to Barcelona, Brussels, Ibiza, Rome, Paris and Milan.
Starting from October, two new aircraft will be based at the airport, bringing 250 new jobs immediately, expanding to four new planes and 26 routes by 2012.
Mr O’Leary said the expansion would create 2,000 new jobs.
