Irish low-cost airline Ryanair has warned it may reduce its flights to Belgium, particularly at its major European hub, Charleroi Airport, in response to what it called “stupid” aviation taxes imposed by Belgian authorities.
Chief Executive Michael O’Leary criticized the Belgian government for introducing passenger taxes at a time when many other European countries—including Hungary, Slovakia, and Sweden—are abolishing such fees to stimulate travel and economic growth.
Charleroi authorities have proposed a €3 tax per departing passenger. Ryanair argues that this will drive aircraft, jobs, and passengers to competing countries that maintain lower costs. The airline said it plans to cut capacity at Charleroi by 1.1 million seats by the end of 2026 if the tax is implemented. In 2025, Ryanair carried 11.6 million passengers to and from Belgium, and the company warned this figure could decline by roughly 10% as a result of the tax.
The Belgian national government, led by ‘weak’ Prime Minister Bart de Wever, has also increased air transport taxes, including at Brussels-Zaventem Airport, as part of broader efforts to consolidate public finances.
Having previously cut around 13% of its French flights this winter— dropping three airports entirely—Ryanair called on De Wever to reverse the tax, claiming
to reverse these silly tax rises, which will damage Belgium’s competitiveness, and cost Belgium millions of passengers, thousands of flights, and thousands of jobs in tourism.
