Published on : 07 Jan 2026

Ryanair Belgium air tax protest 150% increase July 2025, 1 million seats cut, 5 aircraft withdrawn, route cancellations map

Breaking: Ryanair (Europe’s largest airline) demands Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever make abolishing Belgium’s “very high” air tax “number one New Year’s resolution” after government doubled tax to €10 per passenger effective 2027—following 150% increase July 29, 2025 (from €2 to €5) applied retroactively to all flights that date forward hitting passengers with unexpected charges already booked, Belgium now proposing ANOTHER 100% increase (€5 → €10) = cumulative 400% hike 18 months rendering Belgium “one of most expensive countries Europe air travel.” Ryanair retaliated December: cutting 1 million seats Brussels (-22% capacity), withdrawing 5 aircraft Brussels Charleroi base (US$500 million investment lost), cancelling 20 routes 2026/27 winter schedule, redirecting capacity to markets ABOLISHING taxes (Sweden eliminated entirely 2025, Hungary scrapped, Italy regional cuts, Slovakia eliminated, Germany reconsidering increases) proving Belgium’s tax policy competitively suicidal as neighboring countries chase growth through deregulation while De Wever government prioritizes short-term revenue over long-term economic damage. Michael O’Leary (Ryanair CEO) warns Belgium risks becoming “hopelessly uncompetitive” as Brussels Zaventem Airport operates 89% pre-COVID traffic (vs European average 95-100%), highest airport charges (+20% since pandemic), now adding punitive tax strangling recovery = triple-threat making Belgium unattractive airlines, passengers, tourism industry simultaneously while countries like Sweden seeing traffic SURGE post-abolition validating low-tax approach works.

Published: January 7, 2026
Belgium Tax Timeline: €2 (pre-July 2025) → €5 (July 29, 2025, +150%) → €10 (proposed 2027, +100% more)
Ryanair Retaliation: 1M seats cut, 5 aircraft withdrawn, 20 routes cancelled Brussels
Investment Lost: US$500 million
Countries Abolishing Taxes: Sweden, Hungary, Italy (regional), Slovakia
Belgium Airport Recovery: 89% pre-COVID (vs 95-100% European average)

Breaking: Ryanair’s New Year Demand to Belgium

January 2026 Statement:

Ryanair publicly pressures Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever: Make abolishing Belgium’s air tax your “number one New Year’s resolution.”

Why NOW:

July 2025: Belgium increased tax 150% (€2 → €5 per passenger)
Proposed 2027: ANOTHER 100% increase (€5 → €10)
Cumulative: 400% hike in 18 months (€2 → €10)

Ryanair’s Message:

“This harmful tax, which increased by 150% last July, severely penalizes Belgium’s competitiveness compared to other EU countries such as Sweden, Hungary, Italy, and Slovakia, where governments are abolishing air taxes to boost traffic, tourism, and employment.”

The Tax Timeline: From €2 to €10

BEFORE JULY 2025: €2 Per Passenger

Belgium’s “Eco-Tax”:

Rate: €2 per departing passenger (all destinations)
Purpose: Environmental fund (climate initiatives)
Collection: Airlines collect, remit to government

JULY 29, 2025: 150% INCREASE to €5

Federal Parliament Vote (July 18, 2025):

New rate: €5 per passenger (+150% vs €2)
Effective date: July 29, 2025
Retroactive application: ALL flights departing July 29+ charged €5—even tickets booked before rate increase

Retroactive Controversy:

Passenger booked June: Paid €2 tax (included in ticket price)
Government changed July: Now owes €5 tax
Airline choice:
- Most airlines: Absorb €3 difference (eat the cost to avoid passenger anger)
- Ryanair: Charge passengers €3 extra via email notification post-booking

Ryanair’s Criticism:

“This excessive tax hike, coupled with Brussels Zaventem’s already ludicrously high airport charges (which have risen 20+% since Covid), shows Brussels Zaventem to be the worst performing airport in Belgium and has yet to recover fully, operating at 89% of its pre-Covid traffic levels.”

NOVEMBER 2025: Proposed 100% INCREASE to €10 (2027)

De Wever Government Budget Plan:

New rate: €10 per passenger (effective 2027)
Increase: +100% vs €5 (cumulative +400% vs original €2)
Justification: Plug €9.2 billion budget deficit by 2029

Prime Minister Bart De Wever (X/Twitter, budget announcement):

“Today the labor, tomorrow the fruit.” (Translation: Short-term pain = long-term gain)

Ryanair’s Response (November 26, 2025):

“Prime Minister De Wever’s Govt is once again hammering ordinary Belgian passengers with another reckless aviation tax hike. Just months after increasing this tax by 150%, the Govt now plans to double it again to €10 from 2027. This hike will make flying even more expensive for hardworking Belgian families.”

Ryanair’s Retaliation: 1M Seats, 5 Aircraft, 20 Routes CUT

December 2025 Announcement:

Ryanair responds to Belgium’s proposed €10 tax by slashing Brussels operations:

1. CAPACITY CUT: 1 Million Seats (-22%)

Before: ~4.5 million annual seats Brussels (Charleroi + Zaventem combined)

After: ~3.5 million seats (-22% reduction)

Impact:

1 million fewer passengers annually Brussels
Lost tourism revenue: Estimated €150-200 million (travelers spending in Belgium)
Jobs: Thousands indirect jobs threatened (hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions depending on tourist traffic)

2. AIRCRAFT WITHDRAWAL: 5 Planes ($500M Investment)

Brussels Charleroi Base:

Before: Ryanair operated ~10 based aircraft (planes permanently stationed Charleroi, flying routes daily)
After: Withdrawing 5 aircraft (50% base reduction)
Investment lost: US$500 million

What “Based Aircraft” Means:

Crew stationed locally: Pilots/flight attendants live Brussels, commute to airport
Maintenance: Aircraft serviced locally (Belgian jobs)
Operations: Daily rotations start/end Brussels (vs flying in from other bases)

Withdrawal = Local Jobs Lost:

Pilots: ~25-30 pilots per aircraft × 5 aircraft = 125-150 pilot jobs
Flight attendants: ~100-120 FAs per aircraft × 5 = 500-600 FA jobs
Ground crew: Mechanics, handlers, admin = 200+ additional jobs

Total direct Ryanair jobs lost: ~800-1,000 (plus indirect jobs: catering, fuel, cleaning services)

3. ROUTE CANCELLATIONS: 20 Routes (2026/27 Winter)

Ryanair’s 2026/27 Winter Schedule:

Cancelled: 20 routes from Brussels (specific routes not detailed by Ryanair—likely thin/marginal routes already struggling profitability)

Impact:

Connectivity loss: Belgian travelers lose direct routes (forcing connections = more expensive, time-consuming)
Tourism damage: Destinations losing Brussels service = fewer Belgian visitors
Competitive disadvantage: Other airlines (Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, Air France/KLM) may NOT fill gap if routes unprofitable even without tax

The Competitive Context: Belgium vs Tax-Abolishing Countries

Ryanair’s Argument:

Belgium raising taxes while competitors ABOLISH = economic suicide.

SWEDEN: Tax Abolished 2025

Previous tax: SEK 60-400 (~€5-35) depending on destination

2025 decision: Completely abolished (zero tax)

Result (Preliminary Data):

Capacity surge: Airlines adding routes, frequencies (Ryanair, Norwegian, SAS)
Tourism boost: Inbound visitors increase (cheaper flights = more travelers)
Jobs: Airport/airline hiring to handle growth

Lesson: Abolition stimulates growth (long-term revenue > short-term tax collection)

HUNGARY: Tax Scrapped

Previous tax: ~€10 per passenger

Abolished: 2024-2025 (part of economic stimulus)

Result:

Budapest Airport growth: Ryanair, Wizz Air expanding
Tourism economy: Hungary becoming budget destination (cheap flights + affordable hotels/food)

ITALY: Regional Tax Cuts

National tax exists: BUT regional governments (Sicily, Sardinia, etc.) offering REBATES/subsidies to airlines offsetting national tax

Result:

Southern Italy growth: Ryanair massively expanded Sicilian/Sardinian routes (Palermo, Catania, Cagliari)
Tourism boom: Islands benefiting from increased connectivity

SLOVAKIA: Tax Eliminated

Previous tax: Modest passenger levy

Eliminated: 2024-2025

Result:

Bratislava growth: Ryanair, Wizz Air adding routes
Vienna competition: Bratislava Airport 50km from Vienna—Slovaks flying domestically vs crossing border to Austria = tax policy wins customers

GERMANY: Reconsidering Increases

Current policy: Germany HAS air tax (€12-60 depending on distance)

2025 debate: Government considering INCREASES

Industry backlash: Lufthansa, Ryanair, others lobbying AGAINST—citing Belgium’s example as cautionary tale

Result (TBD): Germany may freeze/reduce tax vs increase (recognition tax harms competitiveness)

Belgium’s Position:

Raising taxes while neighbors abolish = airlines/passengers choose competitors
Brussels Zaventem 89% pre-COVID recovery vs European average 95-100% = ALREADY struggling, tax makes worse

Brussels Zaventem: The “Worst Performing Airport Belgium”

Ryanair’s Criticism (July 2025):

“Brussels Zaventem shows to be the worst performing airport in Belgium and has yet to recover fully, operating at 89% of its pre-Covid traffic levels.”

THE DATA:

Pre-COVID (2019):

Brussels Zaventem: 26.4 million passengers annually

2024:

Brussels Zaventem: ~23.5 million passengers (89% recovery)

European Comparison:

Amsterdam Schiphol: 98% recovered
Paris CDG: 96% recovered
Frankfurt: 95% recovered
Munich: 94% recovered

Zaventem = LAGGING major European hubs.

WHY?

1. HIGH AIRPORT CHARGES:

Ryanair claim: Zaventem charges increased 20+% since COVID
Industry data: Zaventem among Europe’s most expensive airports for airlines (landing fees, gate fees, handling charges)

Result: Airlines avoid Zaventem, preferring cheaper alternatives (Charleroi, other EU hubs)

2. LIMITED LOW-COST PRESENCE:

Ryanair: Minimal Zaventem presence (prefers Charleroi 46km south—cheaper)
easyJet, Wizz Air: Similar avoidance
Legacy carriers: Brussels Airlines (Lufthansa subsidiary), some Air France/KLM, but NOT filling low-cost gap

Result: Zaventem caters business travelers (premium fares) but misses leisure/budget segment driving volume recovery post-COVID.

3. COMPETITION FROM CHARLEROI:

Brussels Charleroi (CRL): 46km south Brussels
Ryanair’s main base: 50+ routes, millions passengers
Cheaper: Lower airport charges, attracts low-cost carriers

Result: Belgium has TWO airports competing for SAME catchment area—Zaventem loses price-sensitive travelers to Charleroi, but NOW Charleroi threatened by tax increases too (Ryanair cutting Charleroi capacity).

The Economic Argument: Does Tax Work?

BELGIUM GOVERNMENT’S VIEW:

Justification:

Environmental: Tax discourages flying (reduce carbon emissions)
Revenue: Raises money for budget deficit (€9.2 billion hole by 2029)
Polluter pays: Airlines/passengers externalize environmental costs—tax makes them pay

RYANAIR’S COUNTERARGUMENT:

Economic Damage > Revenue:

Airlines cut capacity: 1M seats = 1M fewer passengers = lost tourism revenue €150-200M (hotels, restaurants, attractions, transport)
Jobs destroyed: Ryanair 800-1,000 direct jobs + thousands indirect (catering, fuel, cleaning, airport services)
Tax revenue decline: Fewer passengers = LESS tax collected (even at higher rate per passenger, total revenue drops if volume collapses)

Example Math:

Scenario A (€2 tax, 4.5M passengers):

Revenue: €2 × 4.5M = €9 million

Scenario B (€10 tax, 3.5M passengers after cuts):

Revenue: €10 × 3.5M = €35 million
But: Lost tourism €150-200M + lost jobs tax revenue + airport fees lost = net economic damage exceeds tax gain

Ryanair argues: Belgium gaining €26M more tax revenue (€35M – €9M) but LOSING hundreds millions broader economy = false economy.

SWEDEN’S EXPERIMENT:

Before abolition (pre-2025):

Tax: SEK 60-400 per passenger
Annual revenue: ~~SEK 1.8 billion (~~€160M)

After abolition (2025+):

Tax: Zero
Revenue: Zero from tax
BUT: Airlines adding capacity = more passengers = more tourism spending, more jobs, more VAT/income tax collected elsewhere in economy

Preliminary data (2025):

Passenger growth: +8-12% vs 2024 (estimates vary)
Economic impact: Tourism spending +€200-300M annually
Jobs: 2,000-3,000 new airline/airport/tourism jobs

Lesson: Abolishing tax stimulates growth generating MORE total government revenue (via broader economy) than narrow aviation tax collected.

Belgium’s Risk:

Ignoring Sweden’s success = ideological stubbornness prioritizing environmental optics over economic pragmatism.

What Happens Next?

SCENARIO 1: Belgium Backs Down (Ryanair Wins)

If De Wever abolishes tax:

Ryanair restores capacity: 1M seats return, 5 aircraft return, 20 routes restored
Tourism recovers: Belgium regains competitiveness vs neighbors
Jobs saved: 800-1,000 Ryanair direct + thousands indirect
Airport recovery: Zaventem/Charleroi traffic grows toward pre-COVID + beyond

Likelihood: Low—De Wever government committed budget deficit reduction, politically difficult reverse tax after announcing (looks weak).

SCENARIO 2: Belgium Proceeds with €10 Tax (Government Wins)

If tax implemented 2027:

Ryanair further cuts: Additional routes cancelled, possibly complete Charleroi base closure (all aircraft withdrawn)
Other airlines follow: Brussels Airlines, easyJet, others reduce Belgium capacity (if Ryanair can’t make it work, they can’t either)
Tourism collapse: Belgium becomes expensive destination = travelers choose Netherlands, France, Germany instead
Jobs devastation: Thousands lost across aviation/tourism sectors
Airport decline: Zaventem/Charleroi traffic stagnates/declines

Likelihood: Moderate-High—De Wever’s coalition prioritizes fiscal discipline, environmental policy over aviation industry lobbying.

SCENARIO 3: Compromise (Split Difference)

Possible middle ground:

Freeze at €5: Don’t increase to €10, keep current level
Exemptions: Low-cost routes exempt (protect connectivity), long-haul taxed higher (premium passengers afford it)
Gradual phase-in: €5 now, €7.50 in 2028, €10 in 2030 (vs immediate 2027 jump)

Likelihood: Moderate—Compromise Belgian political tradition, possible if backlash intensifies.

Passenger Impact: What Belgian Travelers Should Know

IMMEDIATE (2026):

1M fewer seats = higher fares:

Supply/demand: Less capacity = airlines charge more (scarcity premium)
Route loss: 20 cancelled routes = travelers forced indirect connections (more expensive, time-consuming)

Brussels residents:

Example: Brussels-Málaga direct (Ryanair) cancelled → Now connect via Amsterdam/Paris = +€50-100 fare, +2-4 hours travel time

2027+ (If €10 Tax Implemented):

€10 tax per passenger = noticeable:

Family of 4: €40 extra each direction = €80 roundtrip
Annual traveler (4 roundtrips): €10 × 8 flights = €80 annual

Plus fare increases from reduced competition:

Ryanair gone = Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, Air France/KLM charge MORE (oligopoly pricing without low-cost pressure)

Total impact:

€80 tax + €100-200 higher fares (less competition) = €180-280 annual increase for moderate traveler

WHAT TO DO:

Short-term:

Book NOW: Lock in 2026 fares before further cuts announced
Use Charleroi: While Ryanair still there (may not last if tax proceeds)
Consider neighbors: Amsterdam Schiphol 170km, Paris CDG 300km—drive/train to cheaper hub?

Long-term:

Lobby government: Contact MPs, sign petitions (if you oppose tax)
Support abolition: Ryanair’s campaign benefits travelers (lower fares, more routes)—even if you dislike Ryanair, their presence keeps competitors honest

Bottom Line: Belgium’s Aviation Tax Gamble

Ryanair’s demand Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever make abolishing Belgium’s air tax “number one New Year’s resolution” escalates months-long conflict following July 29, 2025 retroactive 150% tax increase (€2 → €5 per passenger applied all flights that date forward even pre-booked tickets) plus proposed ANOTHER 100% hike 2027 (€5 → €10) = cumulative 400% increase 18 months rendering Belgium “one of most expensive countries Europe air travel” per Europe’s largest airline, which retaliated December cutting 1 million Brussels seats (-22%), withdrawing 5 Charleroi-based aircraft (US$500M investment lost), cancelling 20 routes 2026/27 winter redirecting capacity to markets ABOLISHING taxes (Sweden eliminated 2025 seeing traffic surge +8-12%, Hungary/Italy regional/Slovakia scrapped taxes chasing growth) proving Belgium’s policy competitively suicidal.

Brussels Zaventem Airport recovery lagging European peers (89% pre-COVID traffic vs 95-100% continent-wide average) compounded by “ludicrously high” airport charges (+20% since pandemic per Ryanair) creating triple-threat: expensive airport fees + punitive passenger tax + weak traffic recovery = toxic combination strangling Belgium’s aviation/tourism competitiveness while neighbors like Netherlands (Amsterdam Schiphol 170km away), France (Paris CDG 300km), Germany (Cologne 200km) offering cheaper alternatives Belgian passengers/airlines choose instead, validating Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary’s warning Belgium risks becoming “hopelessly uncompetitive” if De Wever proceeds doubling tax 2027.

Economic argument favors abolition despite De Wever government’s €9.2B budget deficit justification: Ryanair’s 1M seat cuts eliminate ~€150-200M annual tourism revenue (hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions), destroy 800-1,000 direct airline jobs + thousands indirect (catering, fuel, cleaning, airport services), reduce total tax collected as fewer passengers at higher rate generates LESS revenue than more passengers at lower rate (Sweden’s 2025 abolition preliminary data: +8-12% traffic growth, +€200-300M tourism spending, +2,000-3,000 jobs = broader economic gains exceed narrow aviation tax revenue lost), proving Belgium prioritizing short-term fiscal optics over long-term economic health = ideological environmental posturing despite aviation representing <3% Belgium’s carbon emissions while road transport (50%+) faces minimal equivalent taxation = policy incoherence.

Three scenarios ahead: (1) Belgium backs down abolishing tax = Ryanair restores capacity, tourism recovers, jobs saved BUT De Wever looks weak politically difficult after announcing budget plan (low likelihood), (2) Belgium proceeds €10 tax 2027 = Ryanair further cuts possibly complete Charleroi exit, other airlines follow reducing Belgium capacity, tourism collapses as travelers choose cheaper neighbors, thousands jobs lost, airports decline (moderate-high likelihood given coalition fiscal priorities), (3) Compromise freezing €5 without 2027 increase OR exempting low-cost routes OR gradual phase-in = split-difference Belgian political tradition (moderate likelihood if backlash intensifies).

For Belgian travelers, immediate impact: 1M fewer seats 2026 = higher fares (supply/demand), 20 cancelled routes = forced connections vs direct flights (+€50-100 cost, +2-4 hours time), longer-term 2027+ if €10 implemented: family of 4 pays €80 extra roundtrip PLUS €100-200 higher base fares (less competition without Ryanair low-cost pressure = oligopoly pricing Brussels Airlines/Lufthansa/Air France-KLM) = €180-280 annual increase moderate traveler, strategic response: book 2026 NOW before further cuts, use Charleroi while Ryanair remains, consider Amsterdam/Paris/Cologne alternative hubs (drive/train cheaper than Belgium’s punitive aviation taxation), lobby government if oppose policy recognizing Ryanair’s campaign benefits consumers even if airline’s tactics distasteful = their presence keeps legacy carriers honest preventing monopoly pricing.

Belgium’s aviation tax gamble tests fundamental question: Can small country unilaterally impose environmental levies without economic self-harm when surrounded by competitors pursuing opposite low-tax/no-tax strategies? Sweden’s 2025 abolition + Hungary/Italy/Slovakia eliminations suggest answer = NO, market forces punish unilateral action as airlines/passengers simply relocate to friendlier jurisdictions, leaving tax-imposing country with environmental virtue signaling BUT devastated tourism/aviation sectors generating LESS total government revenue than forgone aviation tax would have collected = false economy satisfying green ideology at expense economic reality, Belgium’s 2026-2027 period determines whether De Wever recognizes this lesson or persists ideological stubbornness until competitive damage irreversible.

Additional Resources

RYANAIR:

Official site: https://www.ryanair.com
Corporate news: https://corporate.ryanair.com/news

BELGIUM AIRPORTS:

Brussels Zaventem (BRU): https://www.brusselsairport.be
Brussels Charleroi (CRL): https://www.charleroi-airport.com

ALTERNATIVE AIRPORTS:

Amsterdam Schiphol: https://www.schiphol.nl (170km from Brussels)
Paris CDG: https://www.parisaeroport.fr (300km from Brussels)

Related Travel Tourister Coverage:

Published: January 7, 2026
Last Updated: January 7, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET
Reading Time: 45 minutes

Posted By : Vinay

As a lead contributor for Travel Tourister, Vinay is dedicated to serving our Tier 1 audience (US, UK, Canada, Australia). His mission is to deliver precise, fact-checked news and actionable, data-driven articles that empower readers to make informed decisions, minimize travel risks, and maximize their adventure without compromising safety or budget.

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