Ryanair, the prominent low-cost airline founded in 1985, is implementing significant changes to its European network in 2026, with plans to exit certain airports entirely and quietly discontinue numerous routes. The carrier has pointed to escalating taxes and increased airport charges as the primary drivers behind these adjustments, which could catch many travellers off-guard when attempting to book flights.
Major Withdrawals: The 'Hawaii of Europe' and Spanish Regions
The most substantial cuts involve a complete withdrawal from Portugal's Azores archipelago, often referred to as the 'Hawaii of Europe', and Spain's Asturias region, where all Ryanair services will cease. The Azores closure, effective from 29 March 2026, is projected to impact around 400,000 passengers annually, likely reducing non-stop options and pushing up average fares for the remaining services.
Jason McGuinness, Ryanair's Chief Commercial Officer, expressed disappointment, stating: "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. As a direct result of these rising costs, we have been left with no alternative other than to cancel all Azores flights from March 29, 2026, onwards and relocate this capacity to lower cost airports elsewhere in the extensive Ryanair Group network across Europe."
Further European Route Reductions and Airport Exits
Beyond these headline closures, Ryanair will also maintain route suspensions at several German airports, including Dortmund, Dresden, and Leipzig/Halle, as well as Maastricht Aachen in the Netherlands. The German market alone will see a reduction of nearly 800,000 Ryanair seats for the Winter 2025/2026 schedule, with previous cuts already affecting Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne, Memmingen, and Frankfurt-Hahn.
The airline attributes these decisions to a combination of air traffic control charges, security fees, and aviation taxes, which are partly designed to mitigate the environmental impact of flying—a mode of transport significantly more polluting than rail travel.
Additional Service Changes Across Europe
Further alterations, described by Ryanair as 'capacity changes', have been confirmed by airport operators, regional governments, and media outlets rather than through direct announcements from the airline. These include:
- Various Spanish regions: Services ending in Vigo at the start of 2026; a base closure and sharp route reductions in Santiago de Compostela; halted services in Tenerife North during winter 2025/26, with no reinstatement yet; and continued cuts in Jerez and Valladolid from earlier regional route reductions.
- France: All flights to Brive and Strasbourg were suspended in winter 2025/26 and are expected to remain suspended into 2026, though a partial return is anticipated at Bergerac in summer 2026.
- Ireland: From Cork Airport, routes to Poznań, Gdańsk, and Rome will end in March 2026.
- Belgium: Approximately 20 routes and one million seats will be cut from Brussels and Charleroi in winter 2026/27, with potential earlier reductions in April 2026 if higher taxes are introduced.
- Balkan regions: Multiple route cuts across Bosnia, Serbia, and Croatia, affecting airports such as Banja Luka, Niš, Zadar, and Rijeka.
Ryanair's Stance and Passenger Alternatives
Ryanair maintains that it is not abandoning popular European destinations but is instead seeking areas where government policies and airport charges align with its low-cost operational model. Despite the widespread cuts, passengers may find some relief as rival airlines, including Vueling, Binter, Iberia, and Wizz Air, have already moved to fill the gaps left by Ryanair's withdrawals, potentially mitigating the overall impact on travel options.
