Ryanair to cut 1.1m seats in Belgium in response to higher taxes
Irish low-cost airline Ryanair is cutting 1.1 million passenger seats at Charleroi and Brussels Airports in response to higher taxes, CEO Michael O’Leary has announced.
The decision follows the government’s decision to increase the federal air tax to 10 euros in 2027. The city of Charleroi is also imposing an additional tax of 3 euros per passenger at the airport itself from this year.
O’Leary called the decisions “stupid” and ‘ridiculous” and told a press conference on Wednesday that his company would move to other countries where taxes are lower. Ryanair previously warned that the increases were making Belgium less attractive to airlines as other countries reduce taxes.
“We’re not going to leave Charleroi but we will get significantly smaller,” O’Leary told Belga. “We like Belgium, we want to continue to invest in Belgium … but if you get stupid politicians levying stupid taxes, we will reverse those plans.”
He said he would reverse the decision if Charleroi city council got rid of its planned tax. The council confirmed to Belga on Tuesday that the decision had already been “democratically voted” and was included in the 2026 budget.
Ryanair carried approximately 10.1 million passengers in Belgium last year: 8.9 million via Charleroi and 1.2 million via Brussels Airport. O'Leary says he will cut another 1.1 million seats next year if the federal government does not reverse the tax increase for 2027.
Michael O'Leary addresses a press conference in Brussels, 14 January 2026 © BELGA VIDEO MAARTEN WEYNANTS / © PHOTO DIRK WAEM / AVALON
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