Ryanair cuts one million passenger seats at Brussels airports

Brussels – Open warfare between Ryanair and the Belgian government. The low-cost airline has decided to cut seats for one million passengers at Brussels airports Charleroi and Zaventem. This drastic decision, taken by the company’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, is motivated by the increase in taxes for travellers, wanted by the conservative government of Prime Minister Bart De Wever. The consequences will be higher ticket prices. In fact, fewer Ryanair flights will mean higher prices for travelling to the European capital. European tourists and workers are warned.

The cuts and the tax to be removed

The decision is a real turning point. According to O’Leary, Charleroi Airport will lose 1.1 million passengers from its current 10.5 million. Not happy with that, he has threatened a further cut of 1.1 million passengers by 2027.”We will continue to cut until the Belgian government abolishes these stupid taxes,” he said. The bone of contention is the traveller tax introduced by the municipality of Charleroi (€3 per passenger) and the Belgian government.

From April, the Brussels executive plans to gradually increase taxation, bringing it from the current €2 to €10 by 2027. O’Leary did not forget to make his reasons known by attacking the government: “The Draghi report called on Europe to become more competitive, the De Wever government seems determined to make Belgium even less competitive.”

Ryanair, on the other hand, praised the liberal approach of countries such as Sweden, Italy, Hungary and Switzerland. “They have abolished or reduced aviation taxes,” continues the CEO, “with the aim of supporting traffic, tourism and employment.”

The link between Ryanair and Charleroi

The low-cost airline’s route is a significant blow to Brussels. The outlying airport of Charleroi has gone from being a tiny, almost deserted airport to a busy European hub, thanks solely to the presence of Ryanair. The Irish company’s aircraft first landed in Charleroi in 1997. O’Leary chose Charleroi as his first base in continental Europe. From then on, the airport enjoyed a period of success. Low-cost flights to Charleroi are still the cheapest way for travellers/workers to reach the European capital. O’Leary’s announcement jeopardises this combination.