Belgium’s federal budget deal, unveiled on 28 November 2025, includes a sharp rise in the country’s embarkation (flight) tax. From 1 January 2027 every ticket issued for a departure from a Belgian airport will carry a flat €10 levy, up from today’s €5 on medium- and long-haul journeys and €10 on short-haul hops under 500 km.
The government argues that the harmonised tax will simplify administration and generate an extra €140 million a year to fund rail infrastructure upgrades and green-transition projects. Finance Minister Gwendolyn Rutten said aviation “must pay its fair share” of the climate effort and stressed that Belgium still sits below the €12-to-€20 levies charged by neighbours France and Germany before recent cuts there.
![Belgium to Double Flight Tax From 2027, Airlines Warn of Higher Fares]()
Airlines, however, reacted with fury. Trade body Airlines for Europe (A4E) warned that the increase comes only four months after the last hike and will inevitably be passed on to passengers. Brussels Airlines estimates an average €18 surcharge on a return long-haul ticket once VAT and distribution fees are added. Low-cost carrier Ryanair said the move makes Belgium “even less competitive” than other EU markets and could trigger route cuts at Charleroi and Brussels South airports.
Corporate-travel managers are already recalculating 2026–2028 budgets. A survey by the Belgian Association of Travel Management shows that 63 % of multinationals expect to trim discretionary trips or shift meetings online if final ticket prices climb by more than 8 %. Mobility advisers note that the tax is collected at point of sale, meaning Belgian-originating travellers who book ex-Paris or ex-Amsterdam “surface sectors” might avoid the fee — a loophole the government may try to close.
For now, employers should update cost projections for assignee home-leave, training programmes and expatriate repatriations scheduled after 2026. Travel-policy teams are also advised to communicate the change early to staff to minimise expense-claim disputes.
The government argues that the harmonised tax will simplify administration and generate an extra €140 million a year to fund rail infrastructure upgrades and green-transition projects. Finance Minister Gwendolyn Rutten said aviation “must pay its fair share” of the climate effort and stressed that Belgium still sits below the €12-to-€20 levies charged by neighbours France and Germany before recent cuts there.
Airlines, however, reacted with fury. Trade body Airlines for Europe (A4E) warned that the increase comes only four months after the last hike and will inevitably be passed on to passengers. Brussels Airlines estimates an average €18 surcharge on a return long-haul ticket once VAT and distribution fees are added. Low-cost carrier Ryanair said the move makes Belgium “even less competitive” than other EU markets and could trigger route cuts at Charleroi and Brussels South airports.
Corporate-travel managers are already recalculating 2026–2028 budgets. A survey by the Belgian Association of Travel Management shows that 63 % of multinationals expect to trim discretionary trips or shift meetings online if final ticket prices climb by more than 8 %. Mobility advisers note that the tax is collected at point of sale, meaning Belgian-originating travellers who book ex-Paris or ex-Amsterdam “surface sectors” might avoid the fee — a loophole the government may try to close.
For now, employers should update cost projections for assignee home-leave, training programmes and expatriate repatriations scheduled after 2026. Travel-policy teams are also advised to communicate the change early to staff to minimise expense-claim disputes.
