Ryanair will cut 1 million seats (-22%), remove five based aircraft and scrap 20 routes from its Brussels Airport and Charleroi (Brussels South) schedules for Winter 2026/27, the Irish low-cost airline announced on Tuesday. The decision comes in response to the Belgian federal government’s plan to double the national air passenger tax to €10 from 2027, and Charleroi’s proposal to introduce a new €3 municipal tax from next year.
The move represents a $500 million loss of investment in Belgium and puts “thousands of jobs at risk,” Ryanair warned.
Second major tax hike within months
Belgium already raised its air passenger tax last summer—by up to 150% for flights above 500 km—and decided last week to increase it further to €11 from 2029. Most recently, the Charleroi city council proposed a €3 per-passenger local levy, prompting criticism from Walloon leaders, who called the measure “senseless” and harmful for regional employment.
Ryanair says Belgium is turning into “one of the least competitive aviation markets in Europe”, especially as several EU states move in the opposite direction. Sweden, Hungary, Italy and Slovakia are scrapping aviation taxes, while Germany is preparing a tax reduction in 2026 after admitting its previous increases were counterproductive.
Major cuts at both Belgian airports
According to Ryanair, the cuts will include:
- 1 million fewer seats
- 5 based aircraft removed (all from Charleroi)
- 20 routes cancelled: 13 from Charleroi and 7 from Brussels Airport (Zaventem)
If Charleroi proceeds with its planned municipal tax, Ryanair warns that cuts could begin as early as April 2026, with additional route closures and aircraft redeployments.
Ryanair urges De Wever government to reverse course
Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer Jason McGuinness criticised what he called “bizarre” and “harmful” taxation decisions and stated in a press release: “These repeated increases make Belgium completely uncompetitive. If the government genuinely wants to revive the economy, it should abolish this harmful aviation tax, not double it.”
He added that Charleroi’s proposed municipal tax was “lunatic” and would reduce employment while lowering local tax receipts in the long run.
Growing tension between Belgium and its airlines
Ryanair’s announcement follows earlier warnings from Brussels Airlines, which said it cannot absorb the new federal taxes and will pass the cost to passengers. Both carriers argue that Belgium risks pushing travellers to neighbouring airports—particularly Eindhoven, Lille and Düsseldorf—where taxes and charges are lower.
With the federal tax set to rise again in 2027 and a local levy looming at Charleroi, Belgium’s aviation sector is headed for a heated political and economic confrontation, as airlines and regional leaders warn of job losses and declining competitiveness.