Starting in 2026, air travelers will have fewer flight options to choose from as Ryanair scales back its operations, removing 20 routes and cutting 1 million seats from its inventory.
Are rising taxes and reduced routes the new reality for European travelers?
Source: Nastya Dulhiier/Unsplash
Passengers navigating European hubs may soon notice a significant decrease in available ticket options and potentially higher airport car parking fees as regional travel dynamics shift.
Ryanair recently confirmed plans to slash 1 million seats from its capacity at 2 major Belgian hubs: Brussels Airport (BRU) and Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL). The airline attributed this decision to the rising passenger taxes being implemented at both locations.
These cuts represent a 22% reduction in service and the cancellation of 20 routes for the winter seasons of 2026 and 2027. The carrier noted that this move follows a government initiative to double departure taxes to €10 ($11.74) by 2027, alongside a new €3 ($3.52) fee proposed by the Charleroi city council.
Jason McGuinness, Ryanair's Chief Commercial Officer, stated that Belgium is moving in the wrong direction compared to other EU nations that are lowering costs to stimulate tourism. He argued that these repeated tax hikes make the country uncompetitive for international carriers.
The airline clarified that these service reductions are scheduled to begin in 2026, so travelers planning trips during the upcoming December holiday rush won't face any immediate cancellations.
Because Brussels serves as a major gateway to the rest of the continent, these reductions will likely impact travel far beyond Belgium. Ryanair currently uses the city as a hub for popular routes to destinations like Rome, Dublin, Marrakesh, and Barcelona.
For those who prefer to park around airport facilities before heading overseas, major American carriers like Delta Air Lines and United Airlines still maintain direct flight paths to Brussels Airport.
Local airport authorities have been quiet regarding the news; Brussels South Charleroi Airport didn't provide an immediate statement, and Brussels Airport officially declined to comment on the situation.
This news follows a difficult 2025 for Brussels Airport, which endured 6 days of labor strikes that disrupted travel for 250,000 people. The unrest even led to a complete suspension of departing flights during a major strike in March.
Despite these challenges, traffic at BRU has remained strong; by October 2025, over 20 million passengers had used the airport, representing a 3.5% growth compared to the previous year.
As an industry leader in the ultra-low-cost sector, Ryanair continues to manage a massive network of 3,600 daily flights across 36 countries, catering to budget-conscious travelers who often search for airport coupons to keep their trip costs down.
