Ryanair has announced its plans to provide flights direct to Frankfurt Airport, Germany’s busiest hub, starting in March 2017.
Currently, the carrier flies into Frankfurt Hahn airport which lies about 100 kms away from the lively city of Frankfurt.
Faro will be among the destinations served along with Alicante, Malaga and Palme de Mallorca.
Ryanair will base two aircraft at Frankfurt Airport to complete 28 flights a week.
The Irish airline has until now avoided the major international airport because of the high charges imposed there. Among the low-cost carriers, only Spanish Vueling and Icelandic WOW offer flights in and out of Frankfurt.
An investment of some €180 million was required by Ryanair, according to its chief commercial officer David O’Brien. This addition will give the airline nine bases in Germany out of some 85 in Europe.
Fraport, the company which operates Frankfurt Airport, is reported to have offered a 40% discount from January to airlines wishing to start using the airport.
The move has caused a flap among existing carriers.
"We can't accept that competitors get the red carpet rolled out with unfair advantages, while those who have for many years been paying for Frankfurt's infrastructure to be built up with high fees pick up the tab," said Michael Engel, director of the German airline federation.
Lufthansa is reported to have demanded the same type of discount that is on offer to Ryanair.
