Ryanair's Major Cuts Affecting Belgium's Air Travel
In a significant announcement made in Brussels, Michael O’Leary, the CEO of Ryanair, revealed that the low-cost airline will be eliminating 20 destinations from its routes departing from Belgium. This decision translates to a staggering reduction of 1.1 million available seats and the removal of six aircraft from the Charleroi and Zaventem airports. The airline's decision is directly linked to a contentious dispute over a proposed increase in the air passenger tax in Belgium, set to take effect on January 1, 2027.
The airline had previously indicated in the summer that five aircraft would be withdrawn from Charleroi in the upcoming months. With this latest announcement, the total number of aircraft being cut has risen to six across both Belgian airports. This drastic measure not only impacts the availability of flights but also puts approximately 200 jobs at the Charleroi airport at risk, as reported by the Belgian news agency Belga.
Specific Routes Affected and Future Considerations
According to reports, the destinations facing elimination include popular cities such as Málaga, Barcelona, Rome Fiumicino, Madrid, Porto, Marrakech, and Valencia from the Brussels-Zaventem airport. Additionally, routes from Charleroi to Amman, Dubrovnik, Nîmes, Genoa, Katowice, Lublin, Newcastle, Asturias, Poznań, Reggio Calabria, Sarajevo, Trapani, and Warsaw Modlin are also being discontinued.
O’Leary has been outspoken about the proposed tax increase, labeling it a "failed and foolish initiative" by Prime Minister Bart De Wever. He argues that imposing higher taxes on air travel does not promote growth but merely shifts it elsewhere. Despite Belgium having previously adjusted the tax from an anticipated €10 to €7, this was not enough to sway Ryanair's decision. However, O’Leary has indicated that should the Belgian government reconsider this taxation, the airline would be eager to return to the market with plans to open up to 100 new destinations, potentially restoring jobs and operations in the region.
As reported by lavoixdunord.fr.
