Belgium is pricing itself out of the market with air tax, says Ryanair
Ryanair has warned that Belgium risks making itself less attractive to airlines by raising its air passenger tax at a time when several European countries are doing the opposite. The criticism follows the federal government’s new budget agreement, which confirms that the tax will rise to 10 euros for all flights from 2027.
“While countries like Germany, Sweden, Hungary and Slovakia are reducing or abolishing their air passenger taxes, Belgium is doing the opposite, making it one of the least competitive markets in Europe,” said Ryanair’s commercial director, Jason McGuinness, in a press release on Wednesday. “The repeated increases will only lead to fewer flights, harm tourism and destroy jobs. Belgium will ultimately generate less revenue than it would if it were pursuing a growth policy.”
The airline is urging the federal government to scrap the tax entirely and introduce measures that support the aviation sector “instead of punishing its own citizens again.”
The remarks follow earlier criticism from Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary, who stated in August that the “simply increased” air passenger tax was the main reason the airline would not expand its Belgian operations during the winter season. The tax on flights over 500 kilometres had just risen to 5 euros, while short-haul flights have been subject to a 10 euro levy for some time. The short-haul rate is set to increase by a further 0.50 cents in both 2028 and 2029.
Ryanair currently operates in Belgium from Charleroi and Brussels Airport (Zaventem).
Brussels Airlines has also previously warned that raising the air passenger tax would “go against the trend” in other countries.
© PHOTO BELPRESS
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