Budget airline Ryanair has announced it is boosting its workforce by 1,000 and adding another 35 planes to its fleet this year.
The new posts will be a mixture of cabin crew, pilots, engineers and sales roles and based across Europe (Chicago Options: ^REURUSD - news) , primarily in the UK, Denmark, Poland, Spain and Cyprus.
The move will swell the no-frills airline's 8,000-strong staff by almost 10% and increase its fleet from 270 to 305 aircraft, a rise of 13%.
Ryanair said recruitment will focus on workers from the UK and Ireland (Xetra: A0Q8L3 - news) , Slovakia, Poland, Portugal, Hungary, Spain and Italy.
But none of the positions will be located in Ireland, the airline's home, where the economic outlook remains gloomy.
The Dublin-based company said this was because of high airport charges and travel taxes.
Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara said: "While Ryanair has grown rapidly to become the No.1 airline in Spain, Italy, the UK and many other EU countries, we continue to reduce flights, traffic and job numbers here in Ireland, where the DAA monopoly airports are totally uncompetitive.
"Even Aer Lingus has described Dublin Airport's fees as 'insane'."
He added: "Ryanair believes that Ireland can return to strong traffic, tourism and jobs growth.
"But only when the new government delivers on its promise to scrap the tourist tax, reduce the DAA's high airport charges to competitive levels, to put Ireland back in the market as a low cost tourist destination, and end the failed policy of protecting the high cost, traffic declining DAA airport monopoly."
Ryanair has said it expects its total traffic to grow from 76 million passengers in 2011 to 80 million in 2012.
Last year, it carried more international scheduled passengers than any other airline, according to the International Air Transport Association.
In November, Ryanair reported a 20% increase in half-year net profits, despite higher oil prices.
The Irish carrier said it expected to make a profit of 440m euros (£366m) for its 2011 financial year, up from a previous forecast of 400m euros (£332m).
23 comments