Ryanair has announced it will dramatically cut the number of flights it operates from Brussels over the next two years due to tax rises.
The airline has revised its schedule from Brussels South Charleroi Airport following confirmation of a €3 per passenger tax being imposed by Charleroi City Council in April 2026 and the Belgian Government’s plan to increase passenger tax from €2 to €10 next January.
Ryanair will reduce the number of seats flown by 1.1m in 2026, with a further 1.1m seat cuts planned in 2027.
“These tax increases are silly when other EU countries including Sweden, Slovakia, Hungary, Italy and Albania, have abolished Aviation Taxes to grow traffic, tourism and jobs,” it said. “Belgium’s tax rises will now send traffic and jobs to other, more competitive, EU countries.”
Ryanair currently operates flights from Manchester, Edinburgh and Newcastle to Charleroi Airport.
The airline has recently reduced capacity at other European airports due to rising costs. Last year, it announced it was closing its base at Santiago in Spain and cancelled winter flights to Tenerife North and Vigo. It has also cut capacity across the Canary Islands as well as to Asturias, Santander and Zaragoza.
