Ryanair has confirmed it will terminate six of its flight routes connecting travellers to the Azores, marking a significant retreat from the Portuguese archipelago after a decade of continuous service.
The Reason Behind the Route Cuts
The airline is pointing the finger directly at escalating operational costs. A spokesperson attributed the decision, which takes effect on 29 March 2026, to "high airport fees." Specifically, Ryanair cited a dramatic 120 per cent increase in air traffic control charges since the pandemic and a newly introduced €2 travel tax levied by the airport operator, ANA.
Ryanair's Chief Commercial Officer, Jason McGuinness, did not hold back in his criticism. He accused ANA, which is owned by the French Vinci group, of operating a "monopoly" within Portugal's airport infrastructure. The airline is now publicly calling for the Portuguese government to step in and prevent any further increases in fees.
Broader European Tensions and Environmental Taxes
This dispute extends beyond Portugal's borders. McGuinness also took aim at what he described as "anti-competitive environmental taxes imposed by the EU." He argued that these policies unfairly disadvantage shorter flights and remote regions like the Azores, while long-haul flights are exempt from the same level of taxation.
This move is not an isolated incident for the budget carrier. It forms part of a wider pattern of flight reductions across Europe, with Ryanair having already made similar cuts to services in destinations including France, Spain, and Germany. In each case, the airline has pointed to tax hikes and increased airport fees as the primary reason for scaling back operations.
What This Means for Travellers
The axing of these six routes will effectively end Ryanair's year-round connections to the Azores, leaving a gap in the market for affordable travel to the islands. For British tourists and those in remote regions reliant on air links, this decision underscores the growing tension between low-cost travel and rising operational costs driven by both national operators and international policy.
