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 lowering the level of theirs. The Federal Government’s new budget agreement stipulates that the tax will rise from 5 to 10 euro from 2027.
Ryanair says that Belgium risks pricing itself out of the market by raising air passenger tax
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In a press release on Wednesday Ryanair’s commercial director, Jason McGuinness said “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. 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.”
Ryanair urges the federal government to think again and scrap the tax entirely. It also wants measures to be introduced that would support the aviation sector “instead of punishing the public again again.”
The remarks follow earlier criticism from Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary. In August Mr O’Leary said that an increase in 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 from two Belgian airports (Charleroi and Brussel Airport).
Previously Brussels Airlines also warned that raising air passenger tax would “go against the trend” in other countries.