Brussels South Charleroi Airport warns new taxes could push it into losses from 2026

Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA) has warned that newly announced local and federal aviation taxes could drive the airport into loss-making territory as early as 2026, with significant consequences for employment and the wider Belgian economy.

From 2026, Charleroi city will levy a €3 tax on each departing passenger, while the federal government plans to double the short-haul European ticket tax to €10 from 2027. BSCA says the municipal tax alone would cost €16.8 million annually, exceeding its current pre-tax profit of around €13 million, making its business model unsustainable.

Low-cost carrier Ryanair has already reacted, warning it may sharply reduce its Belgian operations in winter 2026–27. At Charleroi, this would mean removing five of its 18 aircraft and cancelling 13 routes. BSCA estimates such a move could lead to the loss of around 1,100 direct and indirect jobs and reduce economic activity by roughly €95 million per year, mainly through lost tourism.

CEO Christophe Segaert said the “speed and scale” of the measures threaten the airport’s economic model, while BSCA chair Gilles Samyn described the impact as “untenable” and called for a reassessment of the tax plans.