Ryanair is waving goodbye to several routes across Europe this year (Image: Getty)
is waving goodbye to an array of routes across this year in response to government decisions in some countries to hike aviation taxes and charges.
The cites increased taxes and operational costs as the primary reasons for this reduction routes, particularly in , , , and .
Fed up with rising aviation taxes, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said the airline will operate fewer journeys to and from Brit-favourite destinations from 2025 onwards, with some changes to its services already in effect.
He described the rise in air passenger duty (APD) for passengers in economy on a short-haul flight from £13 to £15 as “insane” and representative of “a rate of tax of 33% on Ryanair’s average ticket price”.
Fed up with rising aviation taxes Michael O’Leary has decided to axe some major routes across Europe (Image: Getty)
Although no specific routes have been axed in France so far, the airline has threatened to reduce the airline’s flights to and from the European country if the tax was increased.
The tax on an economy class short-haul flight within France or Europe will rise from €2.63 to €7.40 on flights departing from France.
At a press conference earlier this month, Mr O’Leary said: “France is already a high-tax country, and if it increases already high taxes further, we will probably reduce our capacity.
“France is going against the tide. Europe will not become more efficient or more competitive by over-taxing air fares.”
As the cuts and changes come into effect, here’s a full list of all the destinations affected so far:
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Ryanair are shutting down operations in Jerez (Image: Getty)
Spain
Brits favourite holiday destination will see its flight log majorly cut this year, with 12 routes set to be axed from Ryanair’s summer schedule – the equivalent of around 800,000 seats.
In a statement, the airline confirmed it will be shutting down operations in Jerez and Valladolid, closing one of its bases in Santiago and cutting traffic in Asturias, Zaragoza, Santander and Vigo.
The airline said the “completely avoidable loss” will be “devastating for Spain’s regional connectivity, jobs and tourism”.
Denmark
Ryanair routes to and from the northern city of Aalborg in Denmark will cease operation at the end of March.
Last month, the airline announced plans to close a two-aircraft base at Billund Airport after Denmark announced the introduction of an aviation tax of DKK50 (£5.60). The airline says it will be a loss of a $200m (£158m) investment.
This means the country will lose 1.7million seats and 32 for the summer, according to the airline.
Ryanair is to close bases at Dortmund (Image: Getty)
Italy
Ryanair announced in January that it would remove an aircraft from Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (Italy’s largest airport) in response to the government’s plans to cap flight numbers and increase a passenger surcharge at the country’s major airports from April 1.
Germany
Ryanair will operate 12% fewer flights to and from Germany this summer, officials said last year, citing the country’s high ATC costs and aviation tax as the reason for the hike.
The airline added that it would close bases at Dortmund, Dresden and Leipzig, as well as majorly reduce its services in Hamburg by 60%, eliminating a total of 22 routes for the summer.