Belgium’s plan to raise air-passenger duties is already reshaping carrier networks. On 19 January Irish low-cost giant Ryanair said it will slash capacity at Brussels-South Charleroi Airport by 1.1 million seats in 2026 and the same again in 2027 after local authorities confirmed a new €3 municipal tax per departing traveller from April 2026. The federal government, meanwhile, intends to hike its own departure levy five-fold—from €2 to €10—by January 2027.
The airline, which carried 11.6 million passengers to and from Belgium last year, warned volumes could fall below 10 million once the dual charges bite. Ryanair’s commercial director Jason McGuinness called the move “a gift to competing airports in the Netherlands, France and Germany,” predicting an outflow of price-sensitive leisure and VFR traffic across the border.
For travelers now weighing alternative routings through neighboring countries, VisaHQ’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) can smooth the journey by handling visa and travel-document requirements in one place—offering fast processing, real-time status updates and expert guidance for Schengen and onward destinations alike.
![Ryanair to cut 2.2 million seats on Belgian routes as federal and local passenger taxes soar]()
Business-mobility impact: fewer frequencies to key European cities mean tighter seat inventory and potentially higher last-minute fares for corporate travellers based in Wallonia. Employers may need to revise travel budgets or reroute staff via Zaventem or neighbouring hubs. For expatriates and commuters who rely on Charleroi’s point-to-point network, the reduction could lengthen journey times and complicate weekend home visits.
Policy context: Belgium argues that increased duties support environmental goals and help finance rail connections to airports. Airlines counter that taxes merely displace traffic without cutting emissions. The stand-off mirrors debates in the UK and France and foreshadows wider fiscal pressure on short-haul aviation in Europe’s Green Deal era.
Next steps: Ryanair said it will finalise the cutbacks once the federal legislation is tabled in Parliament. Charleroi Airport has opened talks with other carriers to back-fill lost capacity but conceded that some routes—particularly to secondary Mediterranean destinations—may disappear entirely.
The airline, which carried 11.6 million passengers to and from Belgium last year, warned volumes could fall below 10 million once the dual charges bite. Ryanair’s commercial director Jason McGuinness called the move “a gift to competing airports in the Netherlands, France and Germany,” predicting an outflow of price-sensitive leisure and VFR traffic across the border.
For travelers now weighing alternative routings through neighboring countries, VisaHQ’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) can smooth the journey by handling visa and travel-document requirements in one place—offering fast processing, real-time status updates and expert guidance for Schengen and onward destinations alike.
Business-mobility impact: fewer frequencies to key European cities mean tighter seat inventory and potentially higher last-minute fares for corporate travellers based in Wallonia. Employers may need to revise travel budgets or reroute staff via Zaventem or neighbouring hubs. For expatriates and commuters who rely on Charleroi’s point-to-point network, the reduction could lengthen journey times and complicate weekend home visits.
Policy context: Belgium argues that increased duties support environmental goals and help finance rail connections to airports. Airlines counter that taxes merely displace traffic without cutting emissions. The stand-off mirrors debates in the UK and France and foreshadows wider fiscal pressure on short-haul aviation in Europe’s Green Deal era.
Next steps: Ryanair said it will finalise the cutbacks once the federal legislation is tabled in Parliament. Charleroi Airport has opened talks with other carriers to back-fill lost capacity but conceded that some routes—particularly to secondary Mediterranean destinations—may disappear entirely.
