Ryanair, Europe’s largest low-cost airline, has abruptly canceled its planned routes from Paris Orly Airport just months before they were scheduled to begin. The airline had acquired two of the 8,000 newly redistributed flight slots at Orly for 2025, intending to launch routes to Bratislava, Slovakia, and Bergamo, Italy, starting in spring.
The move marked a departure from Ryanair’s typical strategy of operating from regional airports with lower fees, as Orly would have been the airline’s first entry into Paris’ major airports. However, reports suggest that Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary vetoed the decision, effectively terminating the routes. The airline is not allowed to reallocate the slots for other routes in 2025.
High Costs and Taxes Behind the Decision?
While Ryanair has not provided an official explanation, industry observers speculate that high airport charges at Orly played a significant role. The carrier has historically avoided capital city airports like Paris-Orly and Charles de Gaulle due to their higher operational costs, instead favoring regional hubs such as Paris Beauvais, located about 80km from the French capital.
The timing of the cancellation has raised questions about Ryanair’s reaction to proposed airline solidarity tax increases, which were ultimately removed from the French budget after political upheaval. Ryanair had previously threatened to withdraw services from 10 regional French airports if the tax hike passed, citing unviable operating costs.
Impact on Orly Operations
Ryanair’s cancellation will not affect other airlines that have acquired slots at Orly. Competitors like Volotea, Wizz Air, and easyJet are moving forward with their plans to expand routes from Paris’ second-largest airport. The redistributed slots became available after Air France announced a gradual shift of its Paris operations to Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Ryanair’s withdrawal highlights its ongoing preference for low-cost, regional operations, even as it faces increasing competition from budget carriers expanding their footprint at major hubs. Despite the setback, Ryanair continues to operate from several French regional airports and maintains a significant presence at Paris Beauvais.
The decision leaves travelers and industry experts wondering whether Ryanair will reconsider its approach to Paris’ airports in the future or stick to its tried-and-true regional model.
