Ryanair cuts 20 Belgian routes and 1.1 million winter seats

Ryanair has announced the removal of 20 routes and 1.1 million seats from its Belgian winter 2026/27 schedule, blaming increases in the country’s aviation tax for the reduction.

The airline said the cuts affect Brussels South Charleroi and Brussels Airport at Zaventem and involve reallocating six aircraft to other European markets. Its announcement did not identify the routes being withdrawn or provide a breakdown of the capacity reductions between the two airports.

Ryanair attributed the decision to an increase in the aviation tax from €2 in January 2025 to €7 in January 2027, a rise of 250%. These figures represent the rate cited by the airline; the release does not detail how the tax applies across different flight categories.

Chief executive Michael O’Leary called on Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s government to abolish the levy, arguing that higher departure costs encourage airlines to move aircraft and capacity elsewhere. Ryanair said the six aircraft would instead support operations in lower-cost European markets.

The carrier also warned of consequences for tourism and employment, although it provided no quantified jobs assessment. Its description of a “collapsing” Belgian air travel market was not supported by market-wide traffic figures in the announcement.

The release contained no response from the Belgian government or either airport, and did not specify when each affected route would cease operating.

The full list of cancelled routes

• Málaga – Brussels Zaventem
• Barcelona – Brussels Zaventem
• Brussels Zaventem – Rome Fiumicino
• Brussels Zaventem – Madrid
• Brussels Zaventem – Porto
• Brussels Zaventem – Marrakech
• Brussels Zaventem – Valencia
• Amman – Brussels Charleroi
• Brussels Charleroi – Dubrovnik
• Brussels Charleroi – Nîmes
• Brussels Charleroi – Genoa
• Brussels Charleroi – Katowice
• Brussels Charleroi – Lodz
• Brussels Charleroi – Newcastle
• Brussels Charleroi – Asturias (Oviedo)
• Brussels Charleroi – Pozna?
• Brussels Charleroi – Reggio Calabria
• Brussels Charleroi – Sarajevo
• Brussels Charleroi – Trapani
• Brussels Charleroi – Warsaw Modlin