Ryanair will withdraw five aircraft from its Charleroi base and remove two million seats from its Belgian flight schedules for winter 2026 and summer 2027. The cuts affect both Charleroi and Zaventem airports, eliminating 20 routes and an estimated two million annual passengers.
The decision follows a government compromise on Belgium's passenger departure tax, which will rise to 7 euros from 5 euros on 1 January 2027 rather than the originally planned 10 euros. The CNE union accused the federal government of capitulating to blackmail by cutting the planned increase by more than half. The Walloon government separately secured 30 million euros in municipal and federal tax reductions at Charleroi airport.
Aviation expert Wouter Dewulf noted that Ryanair traditionally reduces winter capacity, adding that the airline's quarterly profit fell 34 percent to 593 million euros. Charleroi's mayor criticised the cuts for damaging Wallonia's economic activity.