Ryanair has declared it will dramatically reduce its operations at a key European airport serving three major UK cities, in a furious response to new passenger taxes imposed by Belgian authorities.
Major Capacity Cuts Announced
The budget airline confirmed it will slash the number of available seats at Brussels South Charleroi Airport by 1.1 million during 2026, with a further 1.1 million seat reduction planned for 2027. This significant scaling back will directly impact services to and from Manchester, Newcastle, and Edinburgh, though the specific routes facing cuts have not yet been detailed.
The decision is a direct retaliation against two tax increases. Ryanair cites plans by Charleroi City Council to introduce a new €3 levy per departing passenger from April 2026. More substantially, the airline attacked the Belgian government for announcing a five-fold increase in national passenger taxes, rising from €2 in January 2025 to €10 by January 2027.
O'Leary's Blunt Condemnation of 'Idiotic' Taxes
Ryanair's outspoken CEO, Michael O'Leary, did not mince words, labelling the policy "idiotic" and the politicians behind it "silly". He argued the move fundamentally misunderstands the mobility of both aircraft and passengers.
"If Belgium wants to tax passengers, then they simply switch to lower cost, non-tax destinations," O'Leary stated. He pointed to countries like Sweden, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia, and Albania, which have recently abolished similar aviation taxes to stimulate growth.
O'Leary warned that Belgium's competitiveness would be severely damaged, stating, "Belgium’s loss will be to the gain of these lower cost, tax-cutting States." He called on Prime Minister De Wever to reverse the decisions immediately.
Consequences for Passengers and the Belgian Economy
The airline outlined the stark projected fallout from its capacity cuts. As Belgium's largest airline, Ryanair carried 11.6 million passengers to and from the country in 2025. It now forecasts this will drop to 10.6 million in 2026 if the Charleroi Council tax proceeds, and could fall further to just 9.6 million in 2027 if the national tax hike is not revoked.
Ryanair's statement emphasised the wider economic damage, predicting the loss of "thousands of flights, and thousands of jobs in tourism and support industries." The airline contrasted Belgium's approach with the trend elsewhere in the EU, where similar taxes are being scrapped for failing to achieve their goals and instead harming travel and tourism.
Despite Ryanair's forceful campaign, the Charleroi City Council has reportedly rejected the call to cancel its €3 tax. Local reports indicate the measure has already been approved and is included in the official 2026 budget, setting the stage for a prolonged standoff.
For UK travellers flying from the North of England and Scotland, the dispute signals likely reduced flight options and potentially higher fares on routes to Brussels Charleroi as available seats are cut by over two million in the coming two years.
