A bombshell in the Belgian skies. Ryanair has announced a drastic reduction in its flights departing from Belgium starting this winter. The reason? The increase in the national environmental tax on airline tickets. In response to this pricing policy, the Irish carrier is withdrawing six aircraft from the country and cutting 1.1 million seats. This drastic decision will result in the cancellation of twenty iconic routes from Brussels-Zaventem and Charleroi airports, with Zaventem retaining only a single route to Dublin. An analysis of the tax standoff and a comprehensive overview of the destinations being eliminated in the coming weeks.
Rising Airline Taxes: Ryanair’s Outburst Against Belgium
True to his reputation, Ryanair’s CEO doesn’t mince words when it comes to the Belgian government’s new tax policies. At the heart of the dispute: the increase in the tax on airline tickets, which is set to rise from two to seven euros starting next January 1. Describing this measure as a hindrance to tourism and economic development, the airline’s CEO has made his decision: starting next week, six Belgium-based aircraft will be removed from the local fleet, resulting in the elimination of 1.1 million seats for the winter season.
This decision is part of a standoff that began this summer, when the Irish airline was already threatening to scale back operations by two million seats nationwide by 2027. Ryanair is, however, softening its stance by extending an olive branch to the authorities: if Belgium backs down, the company pledges to implement a seven-year growth plan that includes launching 100 new routes and creating 1,000 jobs in the country.
Zaventem deserted, Charleroi scaled back: Which 20 routes have been eliminated?
The impact of this withdrawal is proving particularly severe at Brussels-Zaventem Airport. Starting in November, the low-cost carrier will reduce its presence there to the bare minimum: seven regular routes are being discontinued, leaving only a single route to Dublin. At Brussels Charleroi, the carrier’s historic base in Belgium, the cuts are just as severe, with thirteen routes being removed from the flight schedule.
Here are the full details of the 20 routes canceled this winter:
- Departing from Brussels-Zaventem (7 routes): Málaga, Barcelona, Rome-Fiumicino, Madrid, Porto, Marrakesh, and Valencia.
- From Brussels-Charleroi (13 routes): Amman, Dubrovnik, Nîmes, Genoa, Katowice, Lublin, Newcastle, Asturias (Oviedo), Poznań, Reggio Calabria, Sarajevo, Trapani, and Warsaw-Modlin.
Between sunny vacations in Spain or Morocco, Italian getaways, and key routes to Eastern Europe, tens of thousands of Belgian and cross-border passengers will have to revise their travel plans for the winter season.
