Ryanair Slashes 20 Belgium Routes And 1 Million Seats For Winter 2026/27 Amid Aviation Tax Row

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Ryanair is preparing a significant retreat from the Belgian market for Winter 2026/27, as rising national and local taxes push the airline to slash capacity across its two main bases in the country. The carrier will remove one million seats from its winter schedule, withdraw five aircraft from Charleroi, and cut 20 routes between Brussels Airport and Charleroi combined.

The decision follows Belgium’s plan to double its national air passenger tax to €10 in 2027, compounded by a proposed €3 municipal levy at Charleroi set to take effect next year. Together, these measures have made the two airports considerably less attractive for a low-cost carrier that depends on thin margins and high aircraft utilization to stay profitable.

A Pattern of Rising Aviation Taxes

This isn’t the first time Belgium’s tax policy has reshaped airline planning. The country raised its air passenger tax last summer, with rates climbing by up to 150% on flights over 500 km. A separate increase has since been confirmed, raising the federal tax to €11 from 2029.

Charleroi’s proposed €3 municipal levy adds another cost layer on top of these federal increases, and local stakeholders have raised concerns about its potential impact on regional employment and travel demand. Airlines operating at both airports are now reassessing how these combined charges will affect booking behavior and route economics over the coming years.

Charleroi Bears the Brunt

All five aircraft being withdrawn are based at Charleroi, and the airport will lose 13 routes as a result. Brussels Airport (Zaventem) will see a smaller but still notable reduction, with seven routes removed from its network. The loss of five based aircraft strips Charleroi of meaningful operational flexibility, forcing route consolidation and reducing the airport’s overall connectivity heading into winter.

Ryanair has also warned that further cuts could follow if Charleroi’s proposed municipal tax is approved. Should that happen, the airline says reductions could begin as early as April 2026, with additional routes withdrawn and aircraft reassigned to other markets.

What It Means for Travelers

Capacity cuts of this scale tend to ripple through traveler behavior. When route options narrow, passengers often shift toward nearby airports, adjust travel dates, or reconsider connections entirely. Winter travelers in particular value predictable, well-connected schedules, so a reduction in service at Charleroi and Brussels is likely to influence how passengers plan their journeys through the region.

For carriers, the calculation is straightforward: rising per-passenger taxes erode already tight margins, and airlines like Ryanair have signaled that these added costs will largely be passed on to travelers through higher fares. That, in turn, risks pushing passengers toward airports with lower charges, further complicating the picture for Belgian aviation.

History suggests these disputes can reshape airline networks far beyond a single season. Europe’s low-cost aviation market has repeatedly seen carriers redeploy aircraft when airport charges or taxes rise, favouring airports that offer lower operating costs or stronger commercial incentives. Charleroi itself became one of Europe’s fastest-growing low-cost hubs after attracting Ryanair in the early 2000s through a cost-competitive model, helping transform the airport from a regional facility into a major gateway. If Belgium’s cost base becomes less competitive than neighbouring markets, airlines have the flexibility to shift capacity elsewhere, making route losses far more difficult to reverse once aircraft and crews have been reassigned.

Outlook

Ryanair’s cuts mark one of the clearest signals yet that Belgium’s evolving tax framework is reshaping airline strategy in the country. With Charleroi’s operational footprint shrinking and Brussels Airport’s network also narrowing, Winter 2026/27 is shaping up to be a turning point for Belgian aviation. Whether further cuts materialize will depend largely on how the municipal tax proposal at Charleroi is ultimately resolved, and airlines across the market will be watching closely.

Looking beyond Winter 2026/27, Belgium faces a broader competitive challenge. Low-cost carriers routinely reallocate aircraft to markets where operating costs and airport charges are lower, meaning capacity withdrawn from one country can quickly be deployed elsewhere in Europe. If the current tax environment remains in place, Belgium risks seeing slower route growth and reduced airline investment compared with neighbouring markets competing aggressively for new services. Conversely, any policy changes that improve cost competitiveness could encourage airlines to restore frequencies or reopen suspended routes, making the next round of network planning a critical test for the country’s aviation sector.

Image Source: Ryanair