Ireland’s low-cost giant Ryanair has fired the first salvo in what could become a prolonged standoff with the Belgian federal government over aviation charges. Speaking to reporters in Brussels on 14 January, Group CEO Michael O’Leary confirmed that the carrier will cut 1.1 million seats—roughly 10 % of its programme—at Brussels South Charleroi Airport from the start of the summer timetable in April 2026.
The move is a direct response to a newly-indexed passenger tax of €3 levied on every departing traveller, a measure the De Croo administration introduced as part of its 2026 budget. Although €3 may sound marginal, O’Leary argues the fee tips already thin intra-European margins into loss-making territory and encourages airlines to redeploy aircraft to jurisdictions with lower charges. Four Ryanair jets earmarked for Charleroi will instead be based in Stockholm, while additional capacity is being diverted to Albania, Italy and Slovakia.
While airlines and governments spar over taxes and environmental levies, individual travellers and corporate travel departments can at least keep the paperwork side of trips hassle-free. VisaHQ’s online portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers real-time visa requirements, digital application tools and courier services for Belgian departures and connections, helping passengers stay compliant when rerouted itineraries or new stopovers crop up because of Ryanair’s network changes.
![Ryanair slashes Brussels Charleroi capacity after new €3 passenger tax]()
Beyond capacity reductions, Ryanair hinted at wider strategic consequences. O’Leary urged the European Union to include long-haul competitors in the Emissions Trading System (ETS) or ease ETS compliance costs for EU airlines, warning that layered taxes risk eroding Europe’s comparative advantage in aviation. With the ETS review due by July 2026, Brussels now faces simultaneous pressure on fiscal and climate fronts.
For corporates and travel managers, Ryanair’s decision means fewer point-to-point options from Belgium’s secondary hub and a probable uptick in summer fares as supply tightens. Companies operating pan-European shuttle routes through Charleroi should begin contingency planning—especially those relying on early-morning rotations that may now be reduced.
If Belgian authorities hold the line on taxation, other carriers could follow suit. Conversely, a compromise—such as exemptions for transfer passengers or a phased introduction—might stem the outflow. Until then, mobility managers should monitor GDS inventory updates and renegotiate fare-commitment clauses where volumes can no longer be met.
The move is a direct response to a newly-indexed passenger tax of €3 levied on every departing traveller, a measure the De Croo administration introduced as part of its 2026 budget. Although €3 may sound marginal, O’Leary argues the fee tips already thin intra-European margins into loss-making territory and encourages airlines to redeploy aircraft to jurisdictions with lower charges. Four Ryanair jets earmarked for Charleroi will instead be based in Stockholm, while additional capacity is being diverted to Albania, Italy and Slovakia.
While airlines and governments spar over taxes and environmental levies, individual travellers and corporate travel departments can at least keep the paperwork side of trips hassle-free. VisaHQ’s online portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers real-time visa requirements, digital application tools and courier services for Belgian departures and connections, helping passengers stay compliant when rerouted itineraries or new stopovers crop up because of Ryanair’s network changes.
Beyond capacity reductions, Ryanair hinted at wider strategic consequences. O’Leary urged the European Union to include long-haul competitors in the Emissions Trading System (ETS) or ease ETS compliance costs for EU airlines, warning that layered taxes risk eroding Europe’s comparative advantage in aviation. With the ETS review due by July 2026, Brussels now faces simultaneous pressure on fiscal and climate fronts.
For corporates and travel managers, Ryanair’s decision means fewer point-to-point options from Belgium’s secondary hub and a probable uptick in summer fares as supply tightens. Companies operating pan-European shuttle routes through Charleroi should begin contingency planning—especially those relying on early-morning rotations that may now be reduced.
If Belgian authorities hold the line on taxation, other carriers could follow suit. Conversely, a compromise—such as exemptions for transfer passengers or a phased introduction—might stem the outflow. Until then, mobility managers should monitor GDS inventory updates and renegotiate fare-commitment clauses where volumes can no longer be met.
