Ryanair plans to shut three French airports amid harmful tax dispute
Ryanair Cuts Three French Airports Amid Tax Hike
Ryanair announced it will discontinue services from Brive, Bergerac, and Strasbourg following a steep increase in France’s airline tax. The carrier has already withdrawn flights from Vatry in the spring.
“This astronomical tax makes France less competitive compared to other EU countries such as Ireland, Spain and Poland,” the airline wrote in a statement.
Tax Increase Details
- Solidarity Tax on Airline Tickets rose to 7.40 € per passenger for domestic and European flights.
- Previous rate was 2.63 €.
- New charge applies from March 2025.
Impact on Ryanair’s Operations
Ryanair’s chief commercial officer, Jason McGuinness, said the airline will reduce its winter 2025 capacity by 13 % because of the tax hike.
- Loss of 25 routes.
- Drop of 750,000 seats in France this winter.
- Severe impact on regional connectivity, tourism and local employment.
Ryanair’s Strategic Response
If France keeps the tax, Ryanair will redirect its investment to more competitive markets such as Sweden, Hungary and Italy. In contrast, should the government abolish the levy, the carrier pledges:
- 2.5 billion $ of investment.
- Introduction of 25 new aircraft.
- Doubling traffic to over 30 million passengers per year.
- Creation of 750 additional jobs in French regions.
Ryanair urges Paris to “change course” and “abolish the harmful air tax” in order to restore French aviation competitiveness.
