Belgium Raises Flight Tax: What It Means for Travelers

The Belgian federal government has approved a program law that increases the country’s flight tax on both short-haul and long-haul journeys, a move that will gradually raise the cost of air travel for passengers departing from Belgian airports. The tax hike, approved on May 28 by the government of Prime Minister Bart De Wever, is designed to generate additional revenue and encourage more sustainable travel choices, according to VRT NWS.

What Is the Flight Tax?

The TILEA (“Taks op de Inscheping van een Luchtvaartuig”) is a Belgian embarkation tax that airlines must pay for each passenger departing from a Belgian airport. Introduced on April 1, 2022, it applies to all passengers over the age of two, excluding crew. Because it is an embarkation tax rather than a ticket tax, it is not due if a flight is cancelled. The FOD Financiën describes it as a levy on the boarding of an aircraft, with airlines legally responsible for payment — though they typically pass the cost on to travelers.

How Much Will You Pay?

The new rates introduce a significant increase for long-haul flights and a more modest rise for short-haul journeys. For flights over 500 kilometers, the tax will increase from the current €5 to €10 starting in 2027. Previously, the rate had been as low as €2 to €4. For flights under 500 kilometers, the tax currently stands at €10 and will rise to €10.50 in 2028 and €11 in 2029, as reported by HLN.

The higher rate on short-haul flights reflects their greater environmental impact: short-distance air travel produces more greenhouse gas emissions per passenger per kilometer than long-haul flights. The European Union encourages travelers to consider alternatives such as trains for distances under 500 kilometers.

Expert Reaction

Wouter Dewulf, an aviation economist at the University of Antwerp, said the increase was unsurprising. “The federal government simply needs money,” Dewulf told VRT NWS. “And the amount is quite reasonable, especially compared to our neighboring countries. There, an additional €20 to €30 tax is common. Sometimes even more.”

Dewulf confirmed that airlines will pass the tax on to consumers, contributing to an upward trend in ticket prices. “The final ticket price depends on many factors,” he said. “But it remains a fact that such higher taxes, together with rising fuel prices, CO2 emission rights, and higher personnel costs, create an upward effect on air ticket prices.”

His assessment is stark for bargain hunters: “The days when you could fly somewhere for €10 or €20 are truly over. Such promotions will at most occur very exceptionally.”

International Comparison

Belgium’s €10 long-haul rate remains significantly lower than that of neighboring Netherlands, which currently charges €29.40 and will rise to €30.25 in 2026, with long-haul flights reaching €71 in 2027, according to Luchtvaartnieuws. This relative moderation may limit the impact on Belgian airport competitiveness.

Ryanair’s Response

Low-cost carriers are most affected since the tax represents a larger relative cost increase for cheaper tickets. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary had previously threatened to reduce capacity in Belgium. In January 2026, the airline announced cuts of 1.1 million seats from Charleroi and Brussels. However, in February 2026, after the Walloon government blocked a separate Charleroi city tax, Ryanair reversed its decision for summer 2026 and promised 9% growth.

Dewulf dismissed the idea that Ryanair would leave Charleroi entirely. “Ryanair will certainly not leave Charleroi. That is its most profitable base in Europe,” he said. “But they will continue to threaten, to keep costs as low as possible.” Ryanair continues to threaten winter 2026/27 cuts if the federal tax is not reversed.

Broader Implications

The tax increase serves dual purposes: revenue generation for the federal government’s budget and environmental policy aimed at reducing aviation emissions. The Board of Airline Representatives in Belgium (BAR Belgium), representing 28 airlines, has sharply criticized the planned increase, as noted by HLN.

For travelers, the immediate impact is minimal since the largest increases take effect from 2027 onward. In the medium term, however, air travel from Belgium will become gradually more expensive, potentially reducing demand for short-haul flights and accelerating a shift toward rail for European destinations.

What to Watch For

The key questions ahead include whether Ryanair follows through on its winter 2026/27 capacity threats, how Brussels Airport’s hub competitiveness evolves compared to Schiphol, Frankfurt, and Paris CDG, and what alternative transport investments the government plans alongside the tax. The phased implementation — with the long-haul increase in 2027 and short-haul rises in 2028 and 2029 — gives both the industry and passengers time to adapt.