Ryanair Cuts Belgium Capacity After Tax Hikes

Ryanair announced major seat cuts in Belgium after national and local authorities approved sharp increases in passenger taxes.

Seat Reductions Planned at Charleroi Airport

On January 14, 2026, Ryanair revised its Brussels schedules following new tax decisions by Belgian authorities. The airline will cut 1.1 million seats at Charleroi Airport in 2026, with another 1.1 million reduction planned for 2027.

Charleroi City Council approved a €3 per passenger departure tax, effective from April 2026. The Belgian government also plans a fivefold passenger tax increase, rising from €2 in 2025 to €10 by January 2027.

Ryanair said these measures undermine competitiveness and shift traffic to lower tax European markets. The airline compared Belgium unfavourably with Sweden, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, and Albania, which scrapped aviation taxes.

Economic Impact and Political Pressure

Ryanair carried 11.6 million passengers in Belgium during 2025, making it the country’s largest airline. The carrier expects passenger numbers to fall to 10.6 million in 2026, then 9.6 million in 2027.

Ryanair warned the cuts would reduce flights, tourism, and jobs across aviation and support industries. The airline also criticised Europe’s ETS scheme, which taxes only intra-EU flights while exempting non-EU routes. Ryanair argued Belgian travellers should not shoulder additional costs under already uneven regulations.

O’Leary Issues Strong Warning

CEO Michael O’Leary said aircraft and passengers remain highly mobile across Europe. He warned higher taxes would lead to fewer flights, reduced tourism, and job losses at Zaventem and Charleroi. Ryanair called on Prime Minister De Wever to reverse the tax increases to restore growth and connectivity.