Low-cost carrier Ryanair will slash 1.1 million passenger seats from its Brussels South Charleroi Airport schedule for the 2026 summer season—and another 1.1 million in 2027—after federal and municipal authorities confirmed sharp increases in Belgian departure taxes. From April 2026 the City of Charleroi will levy an extra €3 per departing passenger, and on 1 January 2027 the federal government will raise the national flight tax from €2 to €10. Chief Executive Michael O’Leary branded the measures “stupid taxes on connectivity” and threatened to redeploy aircraft to lower-tax markets such as Sweden, Hungary and Italy. (visahq.com)
Charleroi relies on Ryanair for more than 70 % of its traffic, so the capacity cut could wipe out up to 400 ground-handling and retail jobs. Routes to Spain, Italy and Eastern Europe—popular with SMEs and VFR travellers—are expected to bear the brunt, forcing passengers to connect through Brussels-Zaventem or foreign hubs.
For corporate-travel managers the decision will likely translate into higher fares and longer journey times. Analysts at OAG forecast an 8–12 % rise in average ticket prices on the affected city pairs once the cuts are implemented. Companies may also need to adjust per-diems and travel-policy lead-time rules, especially if new routings involve non-Schengen layovers that trigger additional transit-visa checks.
![Ryanair pulls 1.1 million seats from Charleroi after tax hikes announced]()
To navigate any visa or transit-documentation changes these rerouted journeys might introduce, travellers and mobility teams can turn to VisaHQ, which offers real-time guidance and application processing for Belgian and global visas. The platform’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) allows users to verify entry rules in minutes and arrange courier-assisted filings, easing administrative burdens just as flight schedules become more complex.
The Belgian government argues that increased levies align the country with neighbours and support climate objectives, pointing to similar eco-taxes in France and Germany. Airlines retort that traffic will simply migrate to airports over the border, undermining emissions goals while hurting local employment.
Multinationals with commuter populations between Belgium and Southern Europe should alert travellers early and lock in summer capacity while seats remain. Some mobility teams are revisiting rail-air combinations via Paris or Amsterdam, or encouraging virtual meetings where feasible until the market stabilises.
Charleroi relies on Ryanair for more than 70 % of its traffic, so the capacity cut could wipe out up to 400 ground-handling and retail jobs. Routes to Spain, Italy and Eastern Europe—popular with SMEs and VFR travellers—are expected to bear the brunt, forcing passengers to connect through Brussels-Zaventem or foreign hubs.
For corporate-travel managers the decision will likely translate into higher fares and longer journey times. Analysts at OAG forecast an 8–12 % rise in average ticket prices on the affected city pairs once the cuts are implemented. Companies may also need to adjust per-diems and travel-policy lead-time rules, especially if new routings involve non-Schengen layovers that trigger additional transit-visa checks.
To navigate any visa or transit-documentation changes these rerouted journeys might introduce, travellers and mobility teams can turn to VisaHQ, which offers real-time guidance and application processing for Belgian and global visas. The platform’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) allows users to verify entry rules in minutes and arrange courier-assisted filings, easing administrative burdens just as flight schedules become more complex.
The Belgian government argues that increased levies align the country with neighbours and support climate objectives, pointing to similar eco-taxes in France and Germany. Airlines retort that traffic will simply migrate to airports over the border, undermining emissions goals while hurting local employment.
Multinationals with commuter populations between Belgium and Southern Europe should alert travellers early and lock in summer capacity while seats remain. Some mobility teams are revisiting rail-air combinations via Paris or Amsterdam, or encouraging virtual meetings where feasible until the market stabilises.
