SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 

Washington, D.C. 20549
 


FORM 6-K
 


Report of Foreign Private Issuer
 


Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 


For the month of October 2008
 
 

RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
 
 

c/o Ryanair Ltd Corporate Head Office
Dublin Airport
County Dublin Ireland
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
 
 
Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....
 
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.
 
 
Yes ..... No ..X..
 
 

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
 
 
 


 

Ryanair 
MAY 
CLOSE 
VALENCIA
 BASE
 DUE TO 
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT
'
S FAILURES
Ryanair, Europe's largest low fares airline, today 
(
Tuesday, 
14
th
 
Oct
ober 2008
) announced th
at
 
it may be forced to 
c
lose
 its Valencia base following the failure of Regional Government (Conselleria de Turisme) to reply to Ryanair's proposal on how to ensure the continued growth of passengers at Valencia
 and their repeated failure to meet with Ryanair
. 

Ryanair has set a deadline of this coming Friday, 17
th
 Oct
ober
 for a response from the Government before it makes its final decision on the future of its base at Valencia airport.

Since Ryanair began flying to 
Valencia 
in 2004
 passenger numbers have increased 
each year. Ryanair currently operates 22
 international rou
tes to and from 
Valencia
, a
ll of which are at risk if Ryanair must close all operations to/from 
Valencia
.  

Ryanair is the largest airline flying to 
Valencia
 but, despite its importance to the local economy, the government has opted to support other airlines 
that
 have not provided a fraction of the growth which Ryanair has to the airport
. Instead it has chosen to ignore all efforts by Ryanair to collaborate in ensuring the continued growth in passenger traffic at the airport.

Speaking today, Ryanair's 
Deputy Chief Executive, 
Michael Cawley, said:

"Ryanair has once again proven that 
it is
 the lowest fares, 
best
 punctuality and 
fewest
 
lost bags
 
that
 
passengers
 
really 
want. 
That is why 
over one
 and a half
 million
 
passengers will choose Ryanair this year to travel to
/from
 
Valencia.  
It is madness that 
the Regional Government
 is risking the livelihoods of 
the tourism industry by
 ignoring our repeate
d attempts to meet with them
. 

"
Ryanair 
calls on the R
egional
 G
overnment
 of Valencia
 
to act in the 
best
 interest of all those living and working in Valencia and to meet 
with Ryanair to 
agree the terms 
under
 which we can continue to 
grow traffic and passenge
r numbers with all its consequenti
al economic and social benefits
"
.
 


Ends.
    
    
    
    
    
    
                                                            
Tuesday, 14
th
 October 
2008

For further information:
Stephen McNamara
 
                                                           
Pauline McAlester
Ryanair
                                                                                Murray Consulta
nts 
Tel: 00 353 1 812 1271
    
    
    
                                            Tel: 00 353 1 4980 300


SIGNATURES
 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
 
 

 

RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC




Date:  14 October 2008
 

 

By:___/s/ James Callaghan____
   
 

James Callaghan
 

Company Secretary & Finance Director