-1M SEATS, -5 AIRCRAFT, -20 ROUTES & THOUSANDS OF JOBS AT RISK

Ryanair, Europe’s No. 1 airline, today (Tues, 9 Dec) announced it will cut -1m seats (-22%), 5 based aircraft (loss of US$500m investment), and 20 routes from its Brussels Winter 26/27 schedule as a result of the Belgian Govt’s backward decision to double its harmful aviation tax to €10 per departing passenger from 2027, and the Charleroi city council’s proposal to introduce a  €3 per departing passenger tax from next year on passengers travelling from the airport. This significant increase to access costs – which was already hiked up +150% in July (just 5 months ago) – makes Belgium completely uncompetitive compared to other EU markets like Sweden, Hungary, Italy, and Slovakia, where Govts are abolishing aviation taxes to drive traffic, tourism, and jobs. Even Germany has now recognised that aviation taxes don’t work and has revised its decision to increase aviation taxes.

If the Govt really wants to revive Belgium’s economy, they should abolish this harmful aviation tax to generate more traffic and tourism, not double it. Ryanair calls again on Prime Minister De Wever and his Govt to abolish the aviation tax or Belgian traffic will collapse and fares will soar, just as they have done in Austria & Germany, where Govt’s repeatedly increased access costs. Ryanair has today (Tues, 9 Dec) written to Prime Minister De Wever, Transport Minister Crucke, Wallonia Minister of Airports, Cécile Neven, and the Mayor of Charleroi, Thomas Dermine, to call for the reversal of these increases.

Ryanair’s Jason McGuinness said:

“The De Wever Govt has bizarrely decided to further increase Belgium’s already sky-high aviation tax by another +100% from Jan 2027, on top of the +150% in July last. These repeated increases to this harmful aviation tax make Belgium completely uncompetitive compared to the many other EU countries, like Sweden, Hungary, Italy, and Slovakia, where Govts are abolishing aviation taxes to drive traffic, tourism, and jobs. As a result of this second tax hike in just 5 months, Ryanair has been forced to cut -22% of its Brussels traffic (-1m seats), -5 aircraft from our Charleroi base (loss of US$500m investment), and 20 routes (13 from Charleroi & 7 from Zaventem) for Winter 26/27. Should the Charleroi city council proceed with its ill-judged proposal to introduce further taxes on passengers departing from Charleroi next year, these cuts will deepen as Ryanair will be forced to reduce flights, routes and based aircraft at Charleroi from as early as April 2026 with thousands of local jobs at risk.

If Prime Minister De Wever and his Govt really wanted to revive Belgium’s economy, they should abolish this harmful aviation tax, not double it. Despite so many other EU countries taking this step to support their economies, Belgium is going in the opposite direction, driving up access costs and pushing airlines and tourism elsewhere. We urge Prime Minister De Wever to scrap this damaging aviation tax before Belgian’s traffic, tourism, jobs, and the wider economy collapse any further. Furthermore, the Charleroi city council needs to abandon its lunatic plans to increase taxes driving job losses with the effect of lowering payroll, VAT and corporate tax receipts for the local economy.”

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 low fares airline, today (Tues, 9 Dec) released its December OTA Survey, showing some OTAs like eDreams, Fru, and Tryp overcharging consumers almost 50% over Ryanair’s prices. These OTAs, do not have distribution agreements with Ryanair, because they wish to continue overcharging consumers. eDreams & Fru are this month’s worst offenders, with eDreams selling a reserved seat that costs just €10 on Ryanair.com for €14.86 – 48% more than Ryanair’s price, and Fru selling Priority boarding for 109.69zł over 48% more than the cost of just 74.00zł on Ryanair.com.

Ryanair continues to campaign to protect EU consumers form OTA overcharging and calls again on EU Govts (notably Spain’s useless Consumer Minister Bustinduy) and National Consumer Authorities to take urgent action to protect consumers from these overcharging OTAs. They should and insist on mandatory price transparency from all OTAs which is in line with the transparent pricing being delivered by all Ryanair’s “Approved OTA” partners, to protect consumers.

Ryanair’s Dara Brady said:

“Ryanair’s December OTA survey shows that eDreams, Fru, and Tryp continue to overcharge unsuspecting consumers almost 50% over the prices on Ryanair’s website. Most notably, Spain’s useless Consumer Minister Bustinduy, continues to do nothing to protect thousands of Spanish consumers from this eDreams overcharging.

Ryanair again calls on EU Govt and Consumer Protection Authorities to take urgent action to protect consumers across Europe by insisting on OTA price transparency standards in line with the transparency standards applied by all of Ryanair’s approved OTA partners.”

US$600M INVESTMENT, 15% GROWTH, 3 NEW ROUTES

Ryanair, the UK’s No.1 low fares airline, today (Thurs, 4 Dec) announced a sixth based aircraft at Liverpool John Lennon Airport for Summer 2026, representing a US$600m investment from Ryanair in the Northwest. This additional aircraft will deliver +250,000 additional seats (+15% growth), 3 exciting new routes to Marrakesh, Tirana, and Warsaw, and extra flights on 11 popular existing routes to Alicante, Barcelona, Faro, Ibiza, Kaunas, Kraków, Malaga, Malta, Porto, Reus, and Sofia. Ryanair’s record Summer 2026 schedule offers customers in Liverpool and the Northwest even more choice at Europe’s lowest fares whilst also supporting over 2,000 local jobs.

Ryanair’s Liverpool Summer 2026 schedule will deliver:

• 34 routes, incl. 3 new routes to Marrakesh, Tirana, & Warsaw
• 6 based aircraft (+1 vs. S25 – US$600m investment in Liverpool)
• Increased freq. on 11 routes
• 2m seats incl. +250,000 (+15%) additional seats
• Liverpool traffic grows to over 2.4m passengers p.a.

To celebrate Ryanair’s sixth aircraft and 3 new routes at Liverpool in Summer 2026, the airline has launched a limited time seat sale with fares from £29.99 available only at Ryanair.com.

Ryanair’s CCO, Jason McGuinness said:

“We are delighted to be in Liverpool today to celebrate more Ryanair investment and record growth for the Northwest, with the announcement of a sixth Ryanair aircraft at Liverpool for Summer 2026 as well as 3 new routes to Marrakesh, Tirana, and Warsaw. Ryanair will also add extra flights on existing popular sun and city break routes, like Alicante, Barcelona, Faro, Ibiza & Kraków, driving 2026 traffic above 2.4m passengers p.a.

Ryanair’s supercharged investment and growth at Liverpool (US$600m) will deliver more than 2m low-fare seats to 34 European destinations, offering customers in the Northwest more choice at the lowest fares in Europe, while simultaneously driving inbound tourism. While Ryanair is growing at Liverpool next Summer, other regional airports across the UK are being hamstrung by Rachel Reeves idiotic decision to increase APD. If the UK Govt is serious about delivering growth, they should abolish this penal and damaging APD tax, which makes the UK (particularly regional airports) uncompetitive compared to EU countries like Sweden, Hungary, Slovakia, and regional Italy, which are abolishing aviation taxes and lowering access costs to stimulate traffic, tourism, and jobs growth.

To celebrate Ryanair’s new aircraft and 3 new routes at Liverpool this Summer, we’ve launched a limited time seat sale with fares from £29.99 available only at Ryanair.com.”

Liverpool John Lennon Airport’s CEO, John Irving said:

“As our longest serving airline partner of nearly 40 years with around 40 million of their passengers having chosen to travel via Liverpool in that time, firstly I’d like to thank Ryanair for their continued support and for this latest commitment. This news highlights Liverpool John Lennon Airport’s strategic importance for the City Region and wider Northwest and North Wales and will bring more jobs, more investment and more choice for the region’s travellers as well as for those from overseas visiting the region via the airport too.

As 2025 draws to a close, on what has been one of Liverpool Airport’s busiest years ever, Ryanair’s decision to base a 6th aircraft at Liverpool in 2026 with an additional 250,000 seats on sale, is likely to help the airport go on to break all previous passenger records.”

Ryanair, Europe and Poland’s No.1 airline, today (Wed, 3 Dec) announced it will base a sixth aircraft in Gdańsk for Summer 2026, representing a US$600m investment from Ryanair in Pomerania. This additional aircraft will deliver +300,000 additional seats (+16% growth), 5 exciting new routes to Rome, Dubrovnik, Tirana, Palermo and Bucharest and extra flights on 17 existing popular routes to Alicante, Barcelona, Malaga and Malta. Ryanair’s record Gdańsk Summer 2026 schedule will deliver 2.3m seats across 43 routes, offering customers in the Pomeranian Voivodeship even more choice at Europe’s lowest fares.

Ryanair’s Gdańsk S26 schedule will deliver:

• A record 43 routes, incl. 5 new routes to Bucharest, Dubrovnik, Palermo, Rome & Tirana
• 6 based aircraft (+1 vs. S25 – US$600m investment)
• Increased freq. on 17 routes – incl. Alicante, Barcelona, Malaga and Malta
• 2.3m seats incl. 300,000 (+16%) additional seats
• Gdańsk traffic grows to over 3.3m seats p.a.

To celebrate Ryanair’s sixth aircraft and 5 new routes in Gdańsk next Summer, Ryanair launched a limited-time seat sale with fares available from PLN 120, only at www.ryanair.com.

Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer, Jason McGuinness, said:

“We are delighted to celebrate the news that Ryanair will base a sixth aircraft in Gdańsk for Summer 2026 alongside the announcement of 5 new routes to Bucharest, Dubrovnik, Palermo, Rome & Tirana, in addition to extra flights to 17 popular sun and city destinations such as Alicante, Barcelona, Malaga and Malta. Next Summer, Ryanair’s US$600m investment in the Pomeranian Voivodeship will deliver more than 2.3m low-fare seats from Gdańsk to a record 43 European destinations.

Ryanair’s 6 based aircraft and US$600m investment in Gdańsk is a clear commitment to growing Poland’s regional connectivity. Next Summer, Gdańsk will benefit from +300,000 (+16%) additional seats and 5 new routes with Europe and Poland’s biggest airline, driving inbound tourism to Pomerania and supporting year-round international connectivity at Europe’s lowest fares.

To celebrate Ryanair’s biggest ever schedule and 5 new routes at Gdańsk next Summer, we’ve launched a 2-day seat sale with fares from just PLN 120 available only at Ryanair.com.”

Tomasz Kloskowski, CEO of Gdańsk Airport, added:

“Ryanair’s decision to grow its Gdańsk base with a 6th aircraft and launch exciting new routes for Spring 2026 is a direct result of our long-standing, excellent cooperation and a clear signal of our airport’s rising importance in the region and across Poland. We are delighted that this investment will give passengers from Pomerania even greater choice, while allowing us – together with our partner Ryanair – to continue expanding our route network and strengthen our position as one of Poland’s fastest-growing airports.”

AZORES LOSES 6 ROUTES & 400,000 PASSENGERS P.A.

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Thurs 20 Nov) announced that it will cancel all flights to/from the Azores from 29 March 2026 onwards due to high airport fees (set by the French airport monopoly ANA) and Portuguese Govt. inaction that has increased ATC charges by +120% post covid and introduced a €2 travel tax, at a time when other EU States are abolishing travel taxes to secure scare capacity growth.

Sadly, the ANA monopoly has no plan to grow low-fare connectivity to the Azores. The ANA monopoly faces no competition in Portugal – which has allowed it to extract monopoly profits, by raising Portuguese airport fees without penalty – at a time when competing EU airports are lowering fees to stimulate growth. The Portuguese Govt. must intervene and ensure that its airports which are a critical part of national infrastructure – especially in an island economy like the Azores – are used to benefit the Portuguese people, rather than benefitting a French airport monopoly.

The competitiveness of remote European regions – such as the Azores – is being damaged by the EU’s anti-competitive enviro taxes. EU ETS is levied on intra-European flights only, while more polluting long-haul flights to the US and Middle East are excluded. Rather than making European aviation more competitive (by reducing ETS), the EU has expanded ETS to cover remote regions like the Azores – while exempting non-EU competitors like Turkey and Morocco. Ryanair again calls on Ursula von der Leyen to ensure there is a level playing field on EU environmental taxes, by immediately bringing ETS rates into line with CORSIA.

Ryanair’s CCO Jason McGuinness said:

“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 29 March 2026 onwards and relocate this capacity to lower cost airports elsewhere in the extensive Ryanair Group network across Europe.

This loss of low fare connectivity to the Azores is direct result of the French monopoly airport operator – VINCI – imposing excessive airport charges across Portugal (which have risen by up to 35% since Covid) and the anti-competitive enviro taxes imposed by the EU, which exempt more polluting long haul flights to the US and Middle East, at the expense of EU remote regions such as the Azores. After 10 years of year-round Ryanair operations, one of Europe’s most remote regions will now lose direct low-fare flights to London, Brussels, Lisbon, and Porto due to ANA’s high airport fees and Portuguese Govt. inaction.

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Thurs, 20 Nov) called on Ireland’s Taoiseach, Micheál “do nothing” Martin to fast-track legislation to scrap Dublin Airport’s unlawful 32m traffic cap, before the end of 2025, as he promised in his January “Programme for Govt”. With a 20 seat majority, voters should not have to wait 12 months for Micheál Martin to keep his Programme promise to scrap this cap. Dublin Airport confirmed they have exceeded this cap with 2 months of the year to go. This shows the urgent need for the Govt to scrap this illegal traffic cap at Ireland’s gateway airport and provide the long-term certainty that all airlines need to invest and grow Irish traffic, tourism, and jobs in time for Summer 2026.

Dublin traffic has only grown this year because the High Court suspended this illegal traffic cap in a case taken by Irish airlines, while the Irish Govt dithered and did nothing. This is not a permanent solution. The future of Ireland’s air access and tourism industry cannot be left to linger while Micheál Martin wanders around COP or wastes even more time at Templemore graduation ceremonies or launching his Govt’s 2^nd housing strategy in just 4 years.

Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said:

“Ryanair calls on Micheál “do nothing” Martin to stop wasting time wandering around COP or Templemore, and instead pass urgent legislation to scrap Dublin Airport’s unlawful 32m traffic cap, before the end of 2025. With a 20 seat majority, voters should not have to wait 12 months for Ireland’s “do nothing” Taoiseach to use his 20 seat majority to scrap this cap, and allow Irish traffic, tourism, and jobs to grow in time for Summer 2026. Ireland needs action and leadership, not more dither and delay from Micheál “do nothing” Martin 11 months after his new, 20 seat majority Govt promised to scrap this cap. It’s time to act and stop these indefensible delays.”