RYANAIR has scrapped a winter route between Malaga and Brussels, blaming higher taxes in Belgium.
The Irish carrier announced the news on Tuesday which eliminates the low-season service from the Costa del Sol to Brussels-Zaventem airport during the winter of 2026-27.
Four other winter season routes between Spain and Belgium have also been withdrawn by the operator.
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They are flights from Brussels-Zaventem to Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, in addition to Brussels-Charleroi to Oviedot.
The move says Ryanair is down to extra taxes on airline tickets approved by the Belgian government.
The tax will rise from the current €2 per ticket to €7 in January- a hike of 250%.
It believes the increase will make running services more expensive and reduce the competitiveness of Belgium’s airports compared to other European destinations.
The airline described the Belgian government’s decision as ‘stupid¡ and argues that the higher levy will have negative consequences for air connectivity and tourism activity in the country.
In addition, it will move six aircraft, representing an investment of approximately 600 million US dollars, to other European markets where, according to the company, there are more ‘favourable fiscal conditions’.
Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, has defended the decision to move part of its capacity to other European countries.
“Taxing air traffic does not generate growth; it simply displaces it to other places,” he said.
In addition, it will move six aircraft, representing an investment of approximately 600 million US dollars, to other European markets where, according to the company, there are more ‘favourable fiscal conditions’.
Ryanair’s decision to not run a route between Malaga and Brussels-Zaventem airport during the forthcoming winter does not mean there will be no air links with the Belgian capital.
Brussels Airlines which has existing winter services to Spain, says it will increase capacity to Malaga as part of its planned changes in its flight schedule.
Michael O’Leary also recently warned of the ‘biggest increase in airfares in European history’ as a result of oil price hikes caused by America’s war against Iran.
Ryanair for example bought its diesel supplies for this year at a much-lower ‘hedged’ price in 2025.
Once that deal finishes, then it seems inevitable that fare prices will have to rise.
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