BELGIUM— Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair (FR) has announced plans to cut 1.1 million passenger seats from its Belgian operations, citing rising aviation taxes at both national and local levels. The reductions will primarily affect services at Charleroi Airport (CRL) and Brussels Airport (BRU), two of the airline’s most important bases in the country.
The decision was confirmed by Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary during a press briefing in Brussels, where he warned that higher levies undermine Belgium’s competitiveness. Ryanair said the move reflects a broader reassessment of capacity deployment as governments across Europe increase aviation-related taxes.
Photo: Steve Knight | Flickr
Belgium aviation taxes
Belgium’s federal government plans to raise the national air passenger tax to €10 per departing traveler by 2027, a sharp increase from current levels.
Ryanair argues that this policy disproportionately impacts short-haul, price-sensitive markets that depend on low fares and high aircraft utilization.
In addition to the federal measure, Charleroi city authorities have approved a new municipal tax of €3 per passenger starting in 2026.
The charge has already been written into the city’s 2026 budget, limiting the scope for reversal despite airline opposition.
O’Leary publicly criticized the taxes, describing them as economically counterproductive and harmful to regional connectivity. He said such levies encourage airlines to shift aircraft and growth to countries with lower operating costs.
Photo: Ryanair
Ryanair capacity impact
According to aa.com.tr, Ryanair carried approximately 10.1 million passengers in Belgium last year, underlining the country’s importance to its European network. Of that total, around 8.9 million passengers traveled through Charleroi, while about 1.2 million used Brussels Airport.
The airline now plans to scale back capacity at both locations, with Charleroi expected to absorb the largest reduction.
Ryanair stressed that it is not exiting the airport but will operate a smaller schedule with fewer frequencies and potentially fewer based aircraft.
O’Leary warned that a further 1.1 million-seat reduction could follow as early as next year if the federal tax increase proceeds as planned. He added that Ryanair remains open to reversing the cuts if local authorities withdraw or amend the new passenger charges.
Photo- Ryanair’s Corporate Website
Bottom Line
Ryanair’s planned seat cuts highlight growing tension between European governments and low-cost airlines over aviation taxation. With more than one million seats at risk, Belgium faces reduced connectivity and competitive pressure on its airports if higher taxes remain in place.
The dispute underscores how fiscal policy can directly influence airline capacity decisions and regional air travel growth.
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