Ryanair is continuing to reduce its regional Europe flights in protest against increasing passenger taxes at airports across the region.
Adding to its recent reduction of flights to its German, French and Spanish networks, the airline has announced decreased frequencies in Belgium and Portugal.
Brussels
The airline will cut its Brussels winter schedule by 22%, amounting to one million seats and 20 routes.
The schedule change comes following the Belgian government’s decision to double its aviation tax to €10 (R190) per departing passenger from 2027, and the Charleroi city council’s proposal to introduce a €3 (R58) tax from 2026 on passengers travelling from the airport.
The reduction of these flights will affect connectivity with other regional European cities, including Barcelona, Lisbon, Rome, Krakow and Mallorca.
Portugal
Ryanair also announced that it would cancel all six of its flights to the Azores from March 29 due to high airport fees, representing about 400 000 seats a year.
The loss of these flights will also reduce the connectivity from the country’s main aviation hubs, as the flights originate in main cities such as Lisbon and Porto.
The Ponta Delgada Airport in Azores will roll out a passenger tax increase of €2 (R39) per departing passenger, as decided by the airport operator, ANA Portugal Airports and the Portuguese Government.
