Ryanair Deepens Europe Cuts Amid Fee, Tax Disputes

DUBLIN — Ryanair (FR) is cutting millions of seats, closing bases, and withdrawing from several European airports as the carrier escalates a broad dispute over airport charges, aviation taxes, and air traffic control costs.

The cuts are spread across multiple markets rather than one single schedule change. Spain, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, and Greece are among the most affected countries, with Ryanair shifting aircraft toward lower-cost airports and countries where it says governments are reducing or removing aviation taxes.

Spain, Germany see major capacity cuts

In Spain, Ryanair said it will cut 1.2 million seats from its Summer 2026 regional schedule and stop all flights to and from Asturias Airport (OVD). The airline blamed fee increases by airport operator Aena, while Reuters reported that Aena’s CEO accused Ryanair of using the cuts as “blackmail” in the long-running dispute.

The Spanish reductions follow earlier winter cuts totaling 1 million seats, including 600,000 seats at regional airports on the peninsula and 400,000 in the Canary Islands. Reuters reported that Ryanair said the reductions could affect smaller airports such as Valladolid (VLL) and Jerez (XRY), where the airline operates a large share of flights.

Germany is also facing a significant pullback. Ryanair said it will cut more than 800,000 seats and cancel 24 routes across nine German airports, including Berlin Brandenburg (BER), Hamburg (HAM), and Memmingen (FMM), while Dortmund (DTM), Dresden (DRS), and Leipzig/Halle (LEJ) remain closed to Ryanair operations.

Berlin, Thessaloniki bases close

The German cuts have since deepened. Ryanair announced plans to close its seven-aircraft Berlin base from October 24, 2026, cutting Berlin flying by about 50% and relocating aircraft to lower-cost European markets. The airline cited Berlin airport fee increases and Germany’s aviation tax burden.

In Greece, Ryanair said it will close its three-aircraft base at Thessaloniki Makedonia Airport (SKG) for Winter 2026 and reduce capacity at Athens (ATH), resulting in the loss of 700,000 seats and 12 routes across Greece. The carrier also said it would suspend operations at Chania (CHQ) and Heraklion (HER) during the off-peak months.

Portugal, Belgium also hit

In Portugal, Ryanair said it will cancel all flights to and from the Azores from March 29, 2026, affecting six routes and around 400,000 passengers annually. The airline blamed airport fees, higher ATC charges, a €2 travel tax, and broader environmental-tax exposure on intra-European flights.

Belgium faces another major reduction. Ryanair said it will cut 1.1 million seats from Brussels Charleroi (CRL) in 2026, with another planned 1.1 million seats removed in 2027, citing a proposed €3 Charleroi passenger tax and Belgium’s planned increase in passenger taxes. Reuters separately reported that the first cut represents roughly a 10% capacity reduction at Charleroi.

Not every exit has the same csause

Aerospace Global News reported that Ryanair Group service, including Lauda, Malta Air, and Buzz operations, is absent from several 2026 schedules where service existed in 2025, including Aalborg (AAL), Billund (BLL), Lappeenranta (LPP), Örebro (ORB), Poprad-Tatry (TAT), and Tel Aviv (TLV). The same report notes that Tel Aviv remains affected by the security situation, so it should not be grouped with fee-driven airport exits.

That distinction matters. Ryanair’s confirmed public position is that many of the European cuts are a response to rising access costs, but some withdrawals reflect market, seasonal, operational, or security factors rather than a single Europe-wide cause.

Bottom line

For travelers, the impact is straightforward: fewer Ryanair options at selected regional airports, less winter connectivity in some leisure markets, and possible fare pressure where replacement capacity does not arrive quickly.

For airports and governments, the cuts show how aggressively Europe’s largest low-cost carrier is willing to move aircraft when airport charges or taxes rise. Ryanair is not shrinking overall; it is reallocating capacity away from markets it sees as structurally expensive and toward lower-cost countries.

The broader industry takeaway is that airport fees and aviation taxes are no longer background costs. For low-cost carriers, they are becoming network-shaping variables, determining not just route profitability but whether some secondary airports remain on the map at all.