The Walloon government has called for Brussels South Charleroi Airport to reduce its dependence on Ryanair after the airline confirmed major capacity cuts in Belgium. Ryanair plans to remove five aircraft from its Charleroi base and cut two million seats from its Belgian network. The reductions will affect both Charleroi and Brussels Airport, also known as Zaventem, during the Winter 2026–2027 and Summer 2027 seasons. Ryanair says the decision is a direct response to the Belgian federal government’s planned aviation tax increase.
Walloon Minister-President Adrien Dolimont said the announcement showed why Charleroi Airport needed to attract a wider range of airlines. Diversifying its operators would make the airport less dependent on decisions taken by one dominant carrier. “We are familiar with Ryanair’s communication, which is regularly aggressive,” Dolimont told Belgian news agency Belga. “I have no intention of trembling at each of their statements.”
From 1 January 2027, Belgium’s federal tax on departing passengers taking flights longer than 500 kilometres will rise from €5 to €7. The increase amounts to 40% compared with the current rate. Flights of up to 500 kilometres are already subject to a €10 charge. The government had originally planned to introduce a €10 tax for longer flights as well but reduced the amount following pressure from airlines, airports and regional authorities.
Dolimont was involved in the discussions that led to the lower increase. He said the Walloon government had helped Charleroi Airport avoid around €30 million in additional taxes. This included approximately €15 million in proposed municipal charges and another €15 million connected to the federal tax plans. “Claiming that we can go even further would be unrealistic in the overall context,” he said.
The Walloon government had already intervened in a separate dispute over a proposed regional passenger tax at Charleroi. The measure would have charged €3 for every passenger using the airport and was expected to raise around €15 million per year. After the proposal was abandoned, Ryanair restored its full Charleroi schedule for Summer 2026. The airline promised 7.5 million seats, 112 direct connections and a 9% increase in capacity.
However, the reversal of the regional tax did not end Ryanair’s dispute with the federal government. Despite the decision to limit the federal tax to €7 instead of €10, the airline has now confirmed its planned cuts. “Their decision is theirs to make,” said Dolimont. “We have done our utmost at the Walloon government level, notably thanks to excellent coordination with the federal authorities, and everyone needs to recognise the effort.”
Ryanair continues to demand the complete abolition of the federal aviation tax. It argues that the charge makes Belgium less competitive than European markets where aviation taxes or airport charges are being reduced or removed. The five aircraft withdrawn from Charleroi will be transferred to markets the company considers more competitive. However, Ryanair has not yet revealed which Belgian destinations or flight frequencies will be affected.
Regional Airports Minister Cécile Neven also expressed regret over Ryanair’s announcement. She said the Walloon government had acted within its powers to protect the competitiveness of regional airports and the thousands of jobs that depend on them. The government remains in contact with Charleroi Airport and says it will monitor the situation closely. No details have yet been provided about which other airlines the airport could target as part of its diversification plans.
It also remains unclear how the two million-seat reduction will be divided between Charleroi and Zaventem. The figure describes capacity that Ryanair will not put on sale and does not mean two million existing bookings have been cancelled. Ryanair currently carries around 11.6 million passengers per year across its Belgian network. Travellers will have to wait for the detailed schedules to learn which routes and frequencies will be removed.
