Ryanair cuts Belgian routes and warns of record airfare increases for 2027

Ryanair announced a significant reduction in its winter 2026 schedule in Belgium, cutting 20 routes and over one million seats. The move involves operating six fewer aircraft across Brussels Charleroi and Brussels Zaventem airports, which the airline described as a $600 million reduction in investment. Ryanair attributed this decision to the Belgian government's plan to raise the aviation tax from €2 to €7 per ticket starting in January 2027, claiming the hike undermines the country's competitiveness.

Chief executive Michael O’Leary warned that Europe faces potentially the largest increase in airfares in history over the next 12 months. This projection is driven by surging oil prices, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, as well as the expiration of airline fuel price hedges. While Ryanair secured costs at $67 per barrel for the current year, O’Leary anticipates prices could double, noting that most European carriers lack adequate hedging for 2027. Consequently, the airline market may consolidate as weaker operators struggle to absorb these rising operational costs.