Charleroi plans €3 passenger tax for 2026

Charleroi plans to introduce a €3 tax on every departing passenger from Brussels South Charleroi Airport from 2026. The city aims to raise about €15 million a year.

But the Walloon government has reacted sharply. Minister-president Adrien Dolimont and Airports minister Cécile Neven, both from the Francophone liberal party (MR), dismissed the proposal as “pointless” and “a bad calculation”.

Dolimont said the tax comes just as subsidies and public shareholding are being reduced to give the airport more independence. “This is not a good idea. I hope we can stop it, or that they will come to their senses and avoid attacking an economic engine for the people of Charleroi,” he said.

Neven added that the airport already contributes to city finances through an existing parking tax. Introducing another local charge, she argued, would be misguided. She noted that the airport is already facing rising costs to improve services and must also absorb new federal taxes on airline tickets.

“I hope Charleroi reconsiders,” she said. She urged the city to support an airport that creates jobs across Wallonia.

^{Passengers at Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA) © BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOUR}