EXCESSIVE AIRPORT CHARGES CAUSE FURTHER CAPACITY CUTS TO/FROM PORTUGAL FROM SUMMER 24

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, announced today (22 Dec) that it has further reduced its schedules at both Faro and Porto for Summer 2024 following ANAC’s bizarre decision to rubber stamp ANA’s unjustified airport charge increases of up to 17% from January 2024. These excessive and unjustified charge increases will damage Portugal’s connectivity, tourism and jobs – particularly in Madeira and the Azores whose economies are dependent on air travel for connectivity with mainland Portugal and wider Europe. This damage has already been evidenced by Ryanair’s closure of its Ponta Delgada base, the airline’s removal of one (of its two) aircraft ($100m invest.) from its Madeira base, and the Summer 2024 cuts at Faro and Porto announced just last month. On top of these already announced cuts, Ryanair has today further reduced capacity across 40 routes at its Faro and Porto bases for Summer 2024 as a direct consequence of these unjustified charge increases.

ANA’s airport monopoly faces no competition in Portugal, which allows it to increase prices without penalty. In Lisbon alone, 2024 passenger fees will increase by up to +50% compared to 2019, despite most European airports cutting passenger fees post-Covid to recover traffic and growth. The Portuguese Govt. has failed to ensure that its airports – which play a vital role in national infrastructure – are used to deliver growth to benefit Portugal’s citizens and its economy, rather than solely lining the pockets of the French-owned airport monopoly operator –VINCI.

ANAC must prevent further damage to the Portuguese economy by immediately reversing its short-sighted decision and prohibit ANA’s excessive and unjustified 2024 charge increase. Ryanair calls on the Portuguese Govt. to immediately reopen the concession for the new Montijo Airport to break up the ANA/VINCI airport monopoly, which will bring much needed competition to the Portuguese aviation market.

Ryanair’s Eddie Wilson said:

“We are appalled that the Portuguese Regulator, ANAC, has rubber stamped ANA’s monopoly airport charge increases of up to 17% from January 2024. This bizarre decision will have a devastating impact on Portugal’s connectivity, tourism growth, and jobs, especially in Madeira and the Azores where Ryanair has already closed its Ponta Delgada base and removed one of our two aircraft from Madeira – a loss of $100m investment – due to ANA’s excessive charges.

The ANA monopoly should follow the example of its European counterparts and lower airport charges to help stimulate traffic and tourism recovery, not increase charges by up to 17% to line the pockets of the French owned airport monopoly operator –VINCI. Instead, these unjustified airport charge increases will erode Portugal’s competitiveness and drive-away much-needed inbound tourism in the off-peak season – as evidenced by todays incremental capacity reduction in both Faro & Porto. 

These excessive airport charge increases have today resulted in Ryanair further reducing capacity across 40 routes at our Faro and Porto bases. The Portuguese Govt. must immediately intervene to protect Portuguese tourism, airlines, passengers, and island-economies from ANA’s excessive monopoly pricing that is driving away much needed tourism growth.”