The board of Oslo Rygge Airport has voted in favour of closing the facility to commercial traffic with effect from November 1 of this year should Ryanair (FR, Dublin International) follow through with a threat to curtail it activities at the airfield.

Earlier this year, the LCC warned that it would either completely close or severely reduce its Rygge base operations should the Norwegian government enforce a controversial NOK80 (USD9.07) passenger surcharge with effect from April 1.

Though the tax is now a reality, Ryanair has yet to officially confirm its Rygge winter plans.

Reports state the budget carrier has now opened discussions with Oslo Torp and Oslo Gardermoen concerning the possible transfer of flights there. While it already operates limited flights out of Torp, the Aftenposten newspaper says Ryanair has now been awarded Gardermoen slots with effect from September 1.

Aside from the loss of over 500 jobs, the closure of Rygge to commercial traffic will also affect Norwegian (Oslo Gardermoen) which offers regular flights to Gran Canaria, Malaga, and Alicante through its Norwegian Air International (Dublin International) subsidiary.