Ryanair withdraws 5 aircraft from Charleroi due to hike in air passenger tax

Ryanair claims the reduction in the number of aircraft operating from its major Belgian hub is linked to the federal government’s increase in air passenger tax, the boarding tax.

From 1 January 2027, the boarding tax rises from 5 to 7 euros for flights longer than 500 kilometres. Earlier the tax was expected to rise to 10 euros per passenger, but the De Wever I government made a U-turn.

At the end of last year, Ryanair had already announced that, from next winter, it intended to remove 5 of its 18 aircraft from Charleroi Airport.

No business as usual in winter

Experts have their doubts about the real intention. “Ryanair always has between 11 and 18 aircraft at Charleroi,” explains aviation economist Wouter Dewulf (University of Antwerp). “In winter, they traditionally withdraw aircraft, either because it’s less busy anyway or because the aircraft need maintenance.” It is worth noting that Charleroi remains one of Ryanair’s most profitable bases.

What could well happen, Dewulf says, is that Ryanair will implement cost-cutting measures in the coming months. “The results were slightly below expectations (Ryanair saw its profit fall by 34 per cent to 593 million euros in the past quarter). This was due to higher fuel prices and the war in the Middle East.”

“I do therefore expect that a number of marginal routes outside the traditional winter schedule will be scrapped. But that will be down to higher oil prices, which mean those routes are no longer profitable. However, if they can then link such cost-cutting measures to higher taxes – with the necessary threats – they will not hesitate to do so.”