Ryanair Slashes 2 Million Seats from Belgium Over Tax Dispute
Ryanair has announced a major reduction in its Belgian operations, cutting approximately 2 million seats from its schedule and removing five aircraft from Brussels South Charleroi Airport. The budget airline’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, blamed the Belgian government’s decision to double the air passenger tax, calling the policy “stupid” and warning of significant economic consequences for the Charleroi region.
According to Het Laatste Nieuws, the cuts will take effect by November 2026, when the winter schedule begins. Five of the 19 aircraft currently stationed at Charleroi will be redeployed to other European markets, and 20 routes will be cancelled — 15 from Charleroi and 5 from Brussels Airport (Zaventem). This represents a roughly 22% reduction in Ryanair’s Belgian capacity.
The Tax Trigger
The dispute centers on the Belgian federal government’s decision to double the air passenger tax from 5 to 10 euros per ticket for flights over 500 kilometers, effective from January 1, 2027. For flights under 500 kilometers, the tax is already 10 euros and will rise incrementally to 10.50 euros in 2028 and 11 euros in 2029.
Finance Minister Jan Jambon (N-VA) has stated he has “no intention” of reversing the tax hike. However, the matter is scheduled for further discussion within the government in July 2026, and Walloon Airports Minister Cecile Neven has reminded parliament that Prime Minister Bart De Wever gave a “formal commitment” to reconsider the increase before implementation.
O’Leary’s Response
Speaking at Ryanair’s Dublin headquarters during a press event for Belgian journalists, O’Leary did not mince words. “Belgium, the land of strikes, taxes, and Kevin De Bruyne. The footballer is the only good thing your country has produced,” he said, according to HLN. “Capacity is driven by costs. Costs need to go down, and your ‘stupid government’ is raising them. Belgium is shooting itself in the foot. Nothing is as movable as an aircraft.”
Ryanair Commercial Director Jason McGuinness elaborated on the scale of the withdrawal, telling La Libre Belgique that the move represents a disinvestment of 500 million euros and the loss of 180 to 200 direct jobs and 1,600 indirect positions.
Economic Fallout
Charleroi Airport is approximately 85% dependent on Ryanair traffic. The airline carried 11.6 million passengers to and from Belgium in 2025, a figure that will now drop to roughly 9.6 million annually. Ryanair claims that 160 direct crew jobs will be relocated or lost, with approximately 1,600 indirect jobs in the Charleroi region at risk.
Aviation economist Wouter Dewulf of the University of Antwerp noted that O’Leary’s aggressive response is predictable given the threat to his business model. “It’s logical that O’Leary is fulminating so hard against these additional levies, because they undermine his business model,” Dewulf told HLN. He also warned that the era of ultra-cheap tickets may be ending: “The dumping prices of 10, 20, or 30 euros that we used to pay for a ticket will never return.”
A Shelved Growth Plan
Ryanair had previously outlined ambitious growth plans for Belgium, aiming to expand from 11 million to 16 million passengers by 2032 through 50 new routes and 1,000 additional jobs. The airline had even considered reopening Brussels Airport as a hub and exploring flights from Liège. Those plans are now shelved.
“Sweden, Italy, Hungary, and Slovakia are welcoming us with open arms, and without taxes,” O’Leary said. “We will invest our 500 million dollars there.”
What’s Next?
The Belgian government faces a difficult balancing act. The tax increase serves both as a revenue-raising measure — Belgium has a significant budget deficit — and as an environmental disincentive for short-haul flights, aligning with EU climate objectives. However, the economic costs include job losses at Charleroi and reduced tourism.
O’Leary has left the door slightly ajar, stating that if the government reverses the tax, “everything stays as it was.” The matter is scheduled for further government discussion in July 2026. Possible outcomes range from a full reversal — considered unlikely given Jambon’s stance — to a partial compromise involving a delay or lower increase.
In the meantime, other low-cost carriers such as Wizz Air may move to fill the gap left by Ryanair’s withdrawal, according to Dewulf. The situation remains fluid, with both sides positioning for the next round of negotiations.