Ryanair has announced plans to open its fifth base in Portugal, at Madeira Airport.

The new $200 million facility will allow the airline to deliver to 10 new routes next summer, connecting Madeira with mainland Portugal and six other European countries, with over 40 weekly flights.

The low-cost carrier’s new summer 2022 routes will connect Madeira to: Brussels Charleroi, Dublin, Lisbon, London Stansted, Manchester, Marseille, Milan Bergamo, Nuremberg, Paris Beauvais, and Porto.

Commenting on the new base, Ryanair’s CEO Eddie Wilson said: “This $200m investment will not only boost Portugal’s economy by driving vital tourism but will also create more than 60 direct jobs in the region and over 400 on-site jobs in Madeira.

“Efficient operations and competitive airport charges provide the foundation from which Ryanair can deliver long-term traffic growth and increased connectivity. We worked closely with our partners in Madeira airport, Tourism de Portugal and APM to secure this growth and improve the services for those that live, work, or wish to visit the region.”

The airline has also urged the Portuguese government to open Lisbon-Montijo, “scrap the ill-timed” aviation tax, and introduce a “non-discriminatory traffic recovery scheme”, “all of which could be easily funded with the €3.2bn of wasteful state aid granted to the small zombie airline TAP, by the Portuguese Govt”, Wilson added.