Ryanair has announced the removal of one million seats on its Belgian routes, a 22% cut to its capacity. The low-cost airline will withdraw five aircraft based in the country and close twenty routes, a move that directly endangers hundreds of aviation sector jobs and threatens the 500 million dollar investment the carrier had made.
This drastic reaction follows the increase in the tax on airline tickets, as well as the introduction of a local €3-per-passenger tax in Charleroi starting next year.
Ryanair accuses the government of harming the country’s competitiveness and warns that ticket prices risk skyrocketing, as already seen in Austria and Germany after similar increases. The company has sent letters to Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Walloon officials requesting the cancellation of these measures, but has chosen to act by reducing its operations.
For Belgian and cross-border travellers, this could mean fewer options, higher fares, and weakened international connectivity.
The standoff between Ryanair and Belgium is only beginning and is expected to have serious consequences for the local economy and aviation workers.
