PRESS ASSOCIATION -- 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 two million passengers a year.
New routes from the Irish air carrier 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, chief executive of Ryanair, told a press conference at Manchester Airport the expansion would create 2,000 new jobs both at the airport, with pilots, cabin crew and other work generated in the local economy.
"Ryanair is delighted to unveil Manchester as our 45th base with 26 routes," he said.
"It is great news for Ryanair, for Manchester and terrific news for the industry and local economy."
Manchester is the fourth largest airport in the UK in terms of passenger numbers.
The announcement comes less than 18 months after the airline pulled out many routes in Manchester, in a dispute over costs.
But the latest announcement comes after the carrier struck a multi-million pound deal with the airport to introduce thousands of budget flights.