Ryanair has announced it will cancel all flights to the Azores from 29 March 2026, citing rising airport fees charged by operator ANA, a subsidiary of France's Vinci group. The budget airline had operated six routes to the Portuguese archipelago for a decade, a popular destination for UK holidaymakers known for its volcanic landscapes.
The airline said air traffic control charges have surged 120% since the pandemic, and a €2 (£1.76) travel tax has been introduced. Ryanair called the situation a “monopoly” by ANA, which faces no competition in Portugal, and urged the Portuguese government to intervene to protect local tourism and jobs.
Ryanair's chief commercial officer, Jason McGuinness, stated: “We are disappointed that the French airport monopoly ANA continues to raise Portuguese airport fees to line its pockets, at the expense of Portuguese tourism and jobs – particularly on the Portuguese islands.” He added that the airline will relocate capacity to lower-cost airports in its network.
In response, Vinci group said Ryanair's statement “comes as a surprise,” noting that Azores airport fees are the lowest in its network and were unchanged in 2025, with no increase proposed for 2026. It said dialogue remains open and that other carriers such as Sata Azores Airlines and TAP Air Portugal also serve the routes.
McGuinness also criticised EU environmental taxes, which he said exempt long-haul flights to the US and Middle East, putting remote EU regions at a disadvantage. Ryanair has similarly cut flights in France, Spain and Germany due to tax hikes and fees.
