Airlines and airport operators have breathed a sigh of relief after the Belgian government backed away from plans to double the air passenger tax to €10 on most flights from 2027.
However, the Belgian government has not abandoned its plan to increase the levy altogether. Instead, the Tax on Boarding an Aircraft (TILEA), which is currently €5, will rise by 40% to €7. This change will affect international flights of more than 500 kilometres and 3,500 km (intra-European and medium-haul), from 1 January 2027.
The TILEA was introduced in 2022. Until July 2025, passengers paid €2 on flights of more than 500 kilometres within the European Economic Area, and €4 on longer journeys outside of it. These rates were then harmonised at €5.
The tax is levied when a passenger departs from a Belgian airport, so it is not payable if a flight is cancelled.
Nevertheless, the agreement to cut the levy is a significant compromise, following weeks of fierce criticism from airlines and airport operators. They warned that the planned doubling would damage Belgium’s competitiveness and lead carriers to cut routes, capacity and jobs.
Airlines have long argued that aviation taxes discourage demand, harm tourism, and reduce competitiveness. Airports, for their part, have pointed out that the country is close to northern France, the Netherlands and western Germany, providing both airlines and passengers with alternatives within relatively short distances.
These countries are easily reachable by car from Belgium, providing budget-conscious travellers with a viable, cheaper alternative just a few kilometres away. The government hopes that its €7 compromise will limit the impact on Belgium’s air connectivity while still allowing the federal government to raise budget revenue.
For most travellers, an additional €2 is unlikely to influence their decision, particularly on medium-haul services. Low-cost carriers are more sensitive, however, as even a small increase becomes noticeable on a €20 or €30 fare, especially when combined with airport charges and other regulatory costs.
Unsurprisingly, Ryanair was the loudest critic. In his trademark style, Michael O’Leary threatened to remove millions of seats, cut routes and transfer aircraft to cheaper markets if the government pushed ahead with the original plan. Ryanair has already reinstated its full summer 2026 schedule at Charleroi Airport.
The company has not yet said whether the new €7 federal compromise will persuade it to reverse its planned winter cuts.
Wouter Dewulf, an aviation economist at Antwerp University, told Belgian broadcaster VRT that Ryanair ‘will not be leaving Charleroi’, as it is still its most profitable base in Europe. The airline will continue to make threats in order to keep costs down, he said.
Dewulf said he wasn’t surprised by the increase. ‘The federal government simply needs the money,’ he said, adding that the amount isn’t excessive compared with neighbouring countries, where additional taxes of €20 to €30, sometimes more, are common.
‘The days when you could fly somewhere for €10 or €20 are truly over,’ he added. Such fares will, at most, be rare.
Flights of under 500 kilometres will remain taxed at €10, rising to €10.50 in 2028 and €11 in 2029. The higher rate is partly intended to encourage travellers to consider lower-emission alternatives for short journeys. However, for this policy to be effective, Europe will require more than just another tax increase; it also needs to overhaul its fragmented and often costly international rail network.
