Ryanair Announces Major European Route Cuts for 2026
Ryanair has confirmed significant reductions to its European flight network for 2026, completely withdrawing services from several airports following ongoing disputes with local authorities over fees and taxes. The budget airline's decision affects popular destinations across Spain, Portugal, Germany, France, and Belgium, potentially eliminating approximately three million seats from its schedule.
Geopolitical Tensions Threaten Summer Operations
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has warned that the airline may be forced to cancel 5% to 10% of flights during May, June, and July if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed due to conflict in Iran. Speaking to ITV News, O'Leary explained that jet fuel shortages could prevent the airline from operating its complete summer timetable, with reductions determined by which airports experience supply problems.
"If the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for 60 or 90 days, we're all facing an unknown scenario," O'Leary stated. He indicated airlines would receive minimal warning from fuel providers, making disruption challenging to manage, yet encouraged travelers to secure summer bookings promptly.
Portugal Faces Significant Capacity Reduction
Ryanair has terminated all six routes to and from the Azores, impacting approximately 400,000 passengers annually and representing a 22% reduction in Portuguese capacity. Key cities including Porto and Lisbon will be affected. The airline attributes these cuts to increased air traffic control charges imposed by Portuguese operator ANA (Vinci), alongside EU levies such as the Emissions Trading System targeting short-haul flights.
A new €2 travel levy in Portugal has further contributed to the decision. Ryanair criticized what it called "monopoly profits" extracted by ANA, stating: "The Portuguese Government must ensure its airports benefit the Portuguese people rather than a French airport monopoly." ANA has firmly rejected these accusations, maintaining that charges remain modest and discussions continue.
Spanish Services Slashed Following Fee Dispute
Following a one million seat reduction for winter 2025, Ryanair will implement an additional 1.2 million seat cut from its summer 2026 Spanish schedule. The airline will terminate all services to Asturias and Vigo, close its Santiago de Compostela base, and reduce capacity for Santander and Zaragoza while cutting connections to the Canary Islands.
Services from Girona will decrease by 11% during the summer season. These reductions follow a dispute over a 6.62% increase in airport charges imposed by operator Aena, adding approximately 68 euro cents per passenger. Ryanair branded the fees "excessive," while Aena Chairman Maurici Lucena described the cuts as "blackmail" and "intimidating." Competing carriers including Vueling, Binter, Iberia, and Wizz Air have moved to fill the void on many routes.
German Routes Reduced Due to High Costs
Ryanair announced in October 2025 that it would cut 24 routes to and from Germany, representing nearly 800,000 seats for the winter 2025/2026 timetable. Nine airports have already been affected, including Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne, Memmingen, Frankfurt-Hahn, Dresden, Dortmund, and Leipzig. Services will remain suspended at Leipzig, Dresden, and Dortmund airports in 2026.
The airline attributes these reductions to elevated air traffic control and security charges, substantial German aviation taxes, and multiple airport modifications. Ryanair criticized the German government for undermining competitiveness, noting that Germany's air traffic recovery remains at just 88% of pre-pandemic levels.
French Operations Face Ongoing Uncertainty
France is experiencing significant Ryanair reductions, with 750,000 seats and 25 routes already cut during winter 2025. The airline completely withdrew services from Bergerac, Brive, and Strasbourg, primarily due to increased French aviation taxes. While Ryanair announced in December that it would resume flights to Bergerac during summer 2026 after discussions with French officials, operations to Brive and Strasbourg remain halted.
Ryanair ceased operations at Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne Airport from March 27 due to environmental levies and scrapped its Dublin-Rodez route for 2026. The airline's chief commercial officer, Jason McGuinness, warned that additional French cancellations could be forthcoming, stating: "Ryanair will leave French regional airports in the summer of 2026."
Belgian Routes Affected by New Aviation Levy
Ryanair has cut 20 routes and one million seats from Brussels and Charleroi for its winter 2026/27 timetable, largely due to a new Belgian aviation levy that will double the fee to €10 per passenger. Charleroi may introduce additional local charges as well.
Affected routes include Milan-Bergamo, Barcelona, Lisbon, Rome-Ciampino, Krakow, and Mallorca. Ryanair stated: "If the government really wants to revive Belgium's economy, they should abolish this harmful aviation tax to generate more traffic and tourism, not double it."
The announcement comes as Brussels Enterprise Court ruled in February that multiple Ryanair booking practices were unlawful, including fees for carry-on bags, insufficient transparency regarding additional services, and deceptive marketing communications. The court ordered the carrier to amend these practices or face daily penalties of €5,000.
