Ryanair has revealed plans to cut several routes across Europe in 2026, citing rising airport charges, aviation taxes, and operational costs. The move will reduce roughly three million seats and affect destinations in Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, and other countries, with smaller cities expected to feel the greatest impact.
In Germany, Ryanair will eliminate 24 routes during the Winter 2025/2026 schedule, cutting nearly 800,000 seats. Airports affected include Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne, Memmingen, Frankfurt-Hahn, Dresden, Dortmund, and Leipzig. Operations at Leipzig, Dresden, and Dortmund will remain suspended throughout 2026. The airline attributed the cuts to high air traffic control and security fees, combined with German aviation taxes. Ryanair criticized the government for not following through on promises to reduce these charges, contrasting Germany with countries such as Ireland, Spain, and Poland, where aviation taxes are lower or being removed.
Spain will see a reduction of about 1.2 million seats from the summer 2026 schedule, following cuts of roughly one million seats in winter 2025. Flights to Asturias, Vigo, and Tenerife North will be stopped entirely, while the Santiago de Compostela and Jerez bases will remain closed. The airline said disputes with airport operator Aena over high fees and government regulations on cabin baggage charges were key reasons for the reductions. Ryanair plans to shift capacity to larger Spanish airports and lower-cost destinations in Italy, Croatia, Morocco, Sweden, and Albania.
In France, Ryanair has already cut 750,000 seats across 25 routes, suspending services to Bergerac, Brive, and Strasbourg. While flights to Bergerac will resume in summer 2026, services to Brive and Strasbourg remain halted. The airline warned additional French regional routes could be impacted next year.
Belgium faces reductions at Brussels and Charleroi, where Ryanair will remove 20 routes and one million seats, accounting for about 22 percent of its Belgian capacity. The airline pointed to a new aviation tax doubling fees to €10 per passenger and potential local taxes at Charleroi as reasons for the cuts.
Portugal will lose all six Ryanair routes to the Azores from the end of March 2026, affecting about 400,000 passengers and reducing national capacity by roughly 22 percent. The airline blamed rising air traffic control fees, the EU Emissions Trading System, and a new €2 travel tax. Ryanair said operational challenges, including airport staff strikes, have also contributed to the decision.
Ryanair is also scaling back flights in Bosnia and Serbia for summer 2026, reducing weekly departures from Banja Luka and Niš to redirect capacity to higher-demand markets such as Croatia.
While the airline continues to expand in other regions, including the UK, Finland, and Italy, the 2026 cuts highlight the financial pressures facing low-cost carriers in markets with high taxes and fees. Ryanair has called on governments to reduce charges to maintain competitiveness and avoid further route reductions.
