CALLS ON GOVT TO SCRAP AVIATION TAX TO GROW TRAFFIC & TOURISM

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Tue, 28 Oct) announced it will cut 2 more aircraft from its Vienna base for S26 (loss of $200m investment) due to the Govt’s continued failure to scrap its harmful aviation tax and lower Vienna Airport’s excessive fees. Despite Ryanair presenting an ambitious €1bn growth plan to the Chancellor in September, which would grow Austria’s traffic to 12m passengers p.a. (+70%) and see Ryanair base another 10 new “Next-Gen” Boeing 8-200 aircraft by 2030, the Govt has failed to respond, and as a result, high cost/high tax Austria continues to lose aircraft, traffic, tourism, and jobs to lower cost neighbours Italy & Slovakia.

Austria’s air travel market is collapsing because of this harmful aviation tax – which is one of the highest in Europe at €12 per passenger – making Austria completely uncompetitive compared to lower cost EU countries, like Sweden, Hungary, Slovakia, and regional Italy, where Govt’s are abolishing aviation taxes and cutting airport fees to grow traffic and tourism.

Ryanair has already been forced to cut 3 aircraft and close 3 routes from Vienna for W25. Wizz, Level and easyJet have also closed their Vienna bases, and Lufthansa announced a cut of 10 aircraft from its AUA fleet.

The Austrian Govt. must now wake up if it wishes to save Austria’s failing traffic, tourism, and jobs by immediately scrapping the Austria’s failed aviation tax, and lowering Vienna Airport’s excessive fees.

Ryanair’s Group CEO, Michael O’Leary said:

“We are disappointed with the Austrian Govt’s failure to honour their promise to respond to our $1bn growth plan, which would see Ryanair grow its Austrian traffic by 70% to 12m passengers p.a., base another 10 aircraft at Vienna, add 40 new routes and create 300 high paid jobs for pilots, cabin crew, and engineers. This would see Ryanair fill the gap left by Lufthansa, Wizz, and other high-fare airlines who have cut routes to/from Austria in recent months. All Chancellor Stocker had to do was to scrap Austria’s harmful aviation tax (which only raises €160m p.a.), which is already one of the highest in Europe at €12 per passenger.

As a result of Chancellor Stocker’s failure to reply to our growth proposal, Ryanair has been forced to cut another 2 aircraft from our Vienna base for S26, on top of the 3 aircraft already removed for W25. This capacity will instead be reallocated to other low-cost EU markets, like Italy, Hungary, and Slovakia, where Govt’s are abolishing aviation taxes to stimulate traffic and tourism growth.

The message is clear; Austria’s air travel market is collapsing due to its harmful aviation tax (which only raises €160m p.a.). Chancellor Stocker must act now to scrap this harmful tax and promote low-fare air traffic and tourism growth or suffer more cuts and higher air fares for Austrian passengers/visitors.”

38 ROUTES (6 NEW), 7 AIRCRAFT, INVESTMENT WORTH USD 700 MILLION

Ryanair, the largest airline in Poland and Europe, announced today (October 23) its 2025 winter flight schedule for Wrocław, covering 38 routes, including six new connections – to Newcastle, London Luton, Seville, Pescara, Lamezia, and Athens.

With seven aircraft based in Wrocław, Ryanair is strengthening its position as the largest carrier in the region, supporting the development of tourism, jobs, and the economy of Lower Silesia. This year, the airline will carry over 2.5 million passengers to and from Wrocław, offering them an even wider choice of destinations across Europe.

Ryanair’s winter schedule from Wrocław for 2025 includes:

•    38 routes, including 6 new ones: Newcastle, London Luton, Seville, Pescara, Lamezia, Athens

•    7 aircraft based in Wrocław (investment of USD 700 million)

•    2.5 million passengers per year

•    Over 2,500 jobs in the region

As the fastest growing airline in Europe and the CEE region, Ryanair has also announced recruitment for cadet pilot positions for 2026. Across Poland, 100 places have been created for future pilots who want to start their careers with Europe’s largest airline. Detailed information about the recruitment process can be found on the website https://careers.ryanair.com/jobs/

To mark the announcement of its winter flight schedule, Ryanair has launched a special promotion offering tickets from PLN 119 – the offer is available for a limited time exclusively on ryanair.com.

Michał Kaczmarzyk, President of Buzz (Ryanair Group), said:

“Ryanair is proud to expand its network from Wrocław, which has been one of our key airports in Poland for many years. This winter season, we are offering as many as 38 routes, including 6 new ones, giving passengers even more choice of destinations across Europe.

We have 7 aircraft based in Wrocław this winter – an investment worth USD 700 million, supporting over 2,500 jobs directly and thousands indirectly in the region. At the same time, we are investing in the future of Polish aviation by creating 100 new jobs for cadet pilots for 2026. Recruitment is already underway – this is a unique opportunity to start a career with Europe’s largest airline.

We encourage passengers to take advantage of our ticket promotion from PLN 119, available exclusively on ryanair.com – first come, first fly cheaper!”

Karol Przywara, President of the Management Board of Wrocław Airport, said:

“The ever-growing presence of Ryanair in Wrocław is excellent news for passengers, who can take advantage of the carrier’s extensive network of connections. An even larger number of aircraft at the Wrocław base will make the offer available to travelers in the capital of Lower Silesia truly impressive. It is also worth noting that the region will gain new jobs offered by Ryanair, both for aircraft crews and employees of the service center operating at Wrocław Airport.”

NEW ROUTES TO ALICANTE & PALMA FROM SUMMER 2026

Ryanair, Europe’s No. 1 airline, today (Wednesday, 22 October) reaffirmed its commitment to Germany’s regions, announcing that it will operate low-cost flights from Friedrichshafen Airport from Summer ’26. Ryanair will connect Friedrichshafen with Alicante twice weekly and Palma de Mallorca three times per week, providing the citizens of Friedrichshafen and the surrounding Lake Constance region with new connections to two popular summer destinations at Europe’s lowest fares. With Friedrichshafen re-joining Ryanair’s network of over 230 airports, Ryanair has continued its investment in the regional German airports offering competitive costs, boosting international connectivity and tourism while supporting local jobs and economies.

Ryanair’s investment in Germany could be far greater were it not for the Federal Govt’s repeated failure to address Germany’s high access costs, which continue to stifle traffic, tourism, jobs, and Germany’s post-COVID economic recovery. The Govt’s decision to backtrack on reversing the latest +24% aviation tax increase introduced in May ’24 has forced Ryanair to reduce its Winter ’25 schedule by over 800,000 seats and cancel 24 routes across 9 high-cost German airports (including Berlin, Hamburg, and Memmingen), while Dortmund, Dresden, and Leipzig airports also remain closed.

Germany’s aviation sector is being choked by excessive taxes and security fees, sky-high ATC charges and rising airport costs, making it one of the least competitive markets in Europe. While countries like Sweden, Hungary, and regions of Italy (Abruzzo, Calabria, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Sicily) are abolishing aviation taxes and lowering access costs to drive traffic growth and tourism, Germany continues to lag behind, operating at just 88% of pre-COVID traffic levels.

To celebrate the launch of flights to Friedrichshafen, Ryanair is offering a special seat sale with fares starting from €34.99 for travel between April and May, bookable until the end of October and available later today on www.ryanair.com.

Ryanair’s Head of Communications DACH, Marcel Pouchain Meyer, said:

“We are delighted to announce the long-awaited return of Ryanair’s low-cost flights to Friedrichshafen from Summer 2026 with the launch of exciting new routes to two popular Spanish destinations, Alicante and Palma. We are excited to strengthen the connectivity of Friedrichshafen and the surrounding Lake Constance region, continuing Ryanair’s investment in Germany’s most cost-competitive regional airports and boosting tourism, jobs, and economic growth.

While Friedrichshafen and other competitive regional airports are benefitting from Ryanair’s growth this summer, Germany’s high cost, underperforming airports (such as Berlin, Hamburg, and Memmingen) continue to be crippled by high airport charges, exorbitant (and increasing) aviation / security taxes, and air traffic control charges which have doubled since 2019. These highly uncompetitive access costs have forced Ryanair to divert traffic growth from Germany to neighbouring European markets who are proactively abolishing aviation taxes and lowering access costs to deliver traffic recovery and growth (such as Sweden, Hungary, and regional Italy). It is no wonder that the German aviation market is recovering so poorly, at only 88% of pre-Covid levels.

Ryanair reiterates its call on Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder to finally act – scrap the aviation tax and cut access costs so that Germany’s air traffic can return to growth once again, instead of continuing to lag behind the rest of Europe.

To celebrate the launch of flights to Friedrichshafen, Ryanair is offering a special seat sale with fares starting from €34.99 for travel between April and May, bookable until the end of October and available later today on www.ryanair.com.”

15 ROUTES (3 NEW), 3 BASED AIRCRAFT  – INVESTMENT WORTH USD 300M

Ryanair, the largest airline in Poland and Europe, announced today (October 21) its 2025 winter flight schedule for Katowice, featuring 15 exciting routes, including three new destinations—Budapest, Brussels, and Trapani—and additional flights to popular sunny destinations such as Alicante, Athens, and Catania.

This winter, three Ryanair aircraft will be based in Katowice, strengthening the airport’s position as one of the key hubs in Ryanair’s network in Poland and supporting the development of tourism, jobs, and the local economy.

Ryanair’s winter schedule from Katowice for 2025 includes:

• 15 routes, including 3 new ones: Budapest, Brussels, and Trapani
• 3 aircraft based (investment of USD 300 million)
• 1.3 million passengers per year
• Over 1 000 jobs supported

As the fastest growing airline in Europe and the CEE region, Ryanair has also announced recruitment for cadet pilot positions for 2026. Across Poland, 100 places have been opened for future pilots who want to start their careers with Europe’s largest airline. Detailed information about the recruitment process can be found on the website: https://careers.ryanair.com/jobs/

To mark the announcement of its winter flight schedule, Ryanair has launched a special promotion with tickets starting at PLN 119 – the offer is valid for a limited time exclusively on ryanair.com.

Michał Kaczmarzyk, CEO of Buzz (Ryanair Group), said:

“Ryanair continues to grow in Poland, investing in regional airports such as Katowice, which play a key role in improving transport accessibility, developing tourism, and boosting local economies. Our 2025 winter schedule includes 15 routes, including three new connections – to Budapest, Brussels, and Trapani – giving passengers even more choice of winter destinations.

This schedule will be operated by three aircraft based in Katowice, representing an investment of USD 300 million and supporting over 1,000 jobs in the region. At the same time, we are investing in the future of Polish aviation by creating 100 new jobs for cadet pilots for 2026. Recruitment is already underway – this is a unique opportunity to start a career with Europe’s largest airline.

To mark the occasion, we are launching a special ticket sale starting at PLN 119, available exclusively on ryanair.com – we encourage passengers to book quickly so as not to miss out on the lowest prices.”

Artur Tomasik, President of the Management Board of the Upper Silesian Aviation Association (Katowice Airport):

“This year, Ryanair has significantly increased its regular flight offerings from Katowice Airport. In the first three quarters of 2025, it handled 14% more passengers at our airport than in the same period last year. Thanks in part to the activity of this carrier, this year, for the first time in the airport’s history, we will exceed the threshold of 7 million passengers served.”

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Wednesday, 15^th October) announced that it has reduced its German Winter ’25 capacity by over 800,000 seats and cancelled 24 routes across 9 high-cost German airports (including Berlin, Hamburg, and Memmingen), while Dortmund, Dresden, and Leipzig will remain closed. As a result, Ryanair’s overall capacity in Germany will fall below Winter ‘24 levels.

This decision is a direct result of the Federal Govt’s repeated failure to address Germany’s high access costs and the disappointing roll-back on their commitment to reverse the latest +24% aviation tax increase introduced in May ’24. This punitive aviation tax, coupled with Germany’s soaring ATC charges, excessive Security Fees, and rising airport costs have made Germany grossly uncompetitive compared to other EU countries. Germany’s sky-high access costs are in stark contrast with countries such as Ireland, Spain and Poland which have no aviation taxes, or Sweden, Hungary, and regional Italy, where aviation taxes are being scrapped alongside reduced access costs to boost traffic, tourism, jobs, and economic recovery. As a result, Germany remains among the worst recovered air traffic markets in Europe, operating at just 88% of pre-Covid levels.

Ryanair calls on the German Govt and Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder to take urgent action and reduce Germany’s excessive access costs. Without an immediate intervention, Germany will continue to fall further behind more competitive European countries into Summer ’26. However, should the Govt reverse the latest aviation tax increase (then fully abolish the tax) and reduce its spiralling access costs, Ryanair could deliver transformative growth in Germany incl. 30 additional aircraft (+US$3bn investment), doubling traffic to 34m passengers p.a., and creating over 1,000 additional jobs across Germany.

Speaking from Berlin, Ryanair’s CMO, Dara Brady, said:

“It is very disappointing that the newly elected German Government has already failed to deliver on their commitment to reduce the regressive aviation tax and sky-high access costs which are crippling Germany’s aviation sector. As a result, Ryanair has been left with no choice but to reduce our Winter ’25 capacity by over 800,000 seats and cancel 24 routes across 9 high-cost German airports (including Berlin, Hamburg, and Memmingen), in addition to maintaining our closures of Dortmund, Dresden, and Leipzig. This completely avoidable loss of connectivity will bring our capacity below Winter ’24 levels and will have a devastating impact on German connectivity, jobs, and tourism.

Germany’s air travel market is broken and needs an urgent fix. Due to its excessive access costs, Germany has only recovered 88% of its pre-Covid traffic, which is by far the worst recovery of any major European market. Until the excessive (and rising) aviation tax, ATC charges, Security Fees and airport costs are addressed by the Government, German air traffic will simply continue to declinewhilst other more competitive European countries (with no aviation taxes) benefit from turbocharged Ryanair traffic growth – at Germany’s expense.

Ryanair once again calls on Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder to take urgent action to fix Germany’s broken air transport system by reducing its high access costs which, combined with Lufthansa’s high-fare monopoly, have forced German citizens and visitors to pay the highest airfares in Europe. Ryanair stands ready and willing to bring transformative growth to Germany and, subject to the Government finally taking action to reduce access costs, could deliver an additional 30 aircraft (+US$3bn investment), double traffic to 34m passengers p.a., and support the creation of over 1,000 additional jobs across Germany.”

TEN NEW ROUTES TO BRATISLAVA, SALZBURG, BYDGOSZCZ AND MORE

Ryanair, Spain’s No. 1 airline, today (14 Oct) announced its Winter 2025 schedule for Alicante, with 79 routes, including ten exciting new destinations – Bratislava (Slovakia); Linz, Salzburg (Austria); Bydgoszcz, Rzeszow (Poland); Cardiff, Aberdeen (Wales/Scotland, UK); Stockholm Västeras, Smaland (Sweden); Lanzarote (Spain) and extra flights to popular routes such as Milan, Marrakesh, Budapest, Edinburgh and many more. These additional routes and frequencies will see Ryanair’s winter capacity grow in Alicante by 12%, providing its citizens and visitors with more choice and regular connections at the lowest fares in Europe.  

Ryanair’s Winter 2025 schedule will largely operate on the airline’s 16 Alicante-based aircraft, representing a $1.6bn investment, supporting over 6,700 local jobs, and driving year-round tourism to Alicante.

While Ryanair is growing at Alicante Airport this Winter, the airline has been forced to cut -1,000,000 seats from its wider Spanish Winter 2025 schedule due to AENA’s excessive +6.62% charge increase and ineffective “incentive schemes”, which is turning regional airports financially unviable to operate. Ryanair has long championed and invested in regional airports supporting low fare access to boost tourism and jobs, but cannot justify continued investment in airports where growth is blocked due to uncompetitive fees.

Ryanair’s full Winter 2025 schedule is available to book now at Ryanair.com, with flights to/from Alicante available from as little as €21.99, to travel from November until the end of March 2026.

Ryanair’s Head of Communications and spokesperson in Spain, Alejandra Ruiz, said:

“Ryanair is pleased to launch our Alicante Winter 2025 schedule, with 79 routes, including ten new exciting destinations such as Bratislava (Slovakia); Linz, Salzburg (Austria); Bydgoszcz, Rzeszow (Poland); Cardiff, Aberdeen (Wales/Scotland, UK); Stockholm Västeras, Smaland (Sweden); Lanzarote (Spain) and additional flights in 29 existing routes, including Milan, Marrakesh, Budapest, Edinburgh and many more. This new offer increases Ryanair’s capacity at Alicante by 12%, giving our customers even more choice at the lowest fares.

Despite AENA’s excessive taxes, which have contributed to *2M seat losses in 2025 in other regions, Ryanair remains committed to Alicante, with 16 based aircraft, supporting over 6,700 local jobs.

Ryanair’s full Winter 2025 schedule is available to book now at Ryanair.com, with flights to/from Alicante available from just €21.99 to travel from November until the end of March 2026“.

37 ROUTES (2 NEW), 8 AIRCRAFT ($800M INV) & TRAFFIC GROWTH TO 4,5M P.A. 

Ryanair, Italy’s No.1 airline, today (14 Oct) launched its Winter 2025 schedule for Pisa with 37 routes, incl. 2 exciting new winter routes to Amman and Warsaw, along with increased weekly frequencies on popular existing routes incl. Dublin, Madrid, Marrakech, and Tirana.

Ryanair’s Winter 2025 schedule will operate mostly on the airline’s now 8 Pisa-based aircraft, representing a $800m investment and supporting over 3,600 jobs in the region, while driving year-round inbound tourism in the city and throughout the region

Ryanair’s Pisa W25 schedule will deliver:

• 37 total routes
• 2 new routes to Amman and Warsaw
• Increase freq. on popular existing routes incl. Dublin, Madrid, Marrakech, and Tirana
• 8 aircraft – $800 million invest.
• 4.5M pax p.a.
• Supp. over 3,600 jobs, incl. 240 highly paid aviation jobs

Ryanair has operated to/from Pisa for the past 27 years, carrying over 57 million passengers to date and aims to continue invest and grow traffic in Tuscany region and Italy. To further grow Italian traffic and tourism, Ryanair calls on the Italian Government and its Regions to scrap the Municipal Tax at all Italian airports as Abruzzo, Calabria, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Sicily, for smaller airports, already have. This will allow Ryanair and other airlines to deliver rapid new routes, tourism, and jobs growth on a year-round basis.

Ryanair’s Head of Communications for Italy, Fabrizio Francioni, said:

“As Italy’s no. 1 airline, Ryanair is delighted to announce its Winter 2025 schedule for Pisa with 37 routes, including 2 exciting new routes to Amman and Warsaw, and over 400 weekly flights, which reflect the Ryanair’s commitment to Tuscany region development. To further grow Italian traffic and tourism, Ryanair calls on the Italian Government and its Regions to scrap the Municipal Tax at all Italian airports as Abruzzo, Calabria, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and, for smaller airport, Sicily already have. Reducing access costs and removing the Municipal Tax has proven very successful in delivering transformative connectivity, tourism and jobs growth in these Regions – where we have added 8 aircraft and new routes since they abolished the Municipal Tax. Should the Italian Govt abolish the municipal tax at all Italian airports, Ryanair could respond with a US$4bn investment in Italy, adding 40 new aircraft, traffic growth to 80m passengers p.a., 1,500 new Ryanair jobs and over 250 new routes”.

Toscana Aeroporti said:

“Ryanair’s winter offering confirms the strategic importance of Pisa airport and strengthens the solidity of our partnership, providing continuity and substance to a shared and jointly developed growth plan. In this context, Toscana Aeroporti is working on the expansion and renovation of the new terminal, with a first phase of works to be completed by summer 2026. This is a €70 million investment that will allow us to offer an increasingly efficient and competitive airport experience”.

To celebrate the Winter 2025 schedule and the new routes to/from Pisa, Ryanair has launched seat sale with fares from just €21.99 to travel until 18^th December, available from today for booking by end of October only at ryanair.com (subject to availability).