Belgium’s decision to increase the aviation tax on departing passengers has sparked strong opposition, particularly from Ryanair which warns of severe economic and connectivity consequences. The airline urges De Wever government to reconsider its decision. The suggested hike illustrates an extraordinary 150% increase and is planned to generate over 70 million in revenue almost double the €42 million collected in 2024.
Brussels Zaventem Airport has already witnessed a striking 20% rise in operational taxes since the pandemic. This decision contradicts the ideals of other European nations such as Sweden, Hungary and Italy which eliminate similar practices to encourage air traffic and economic growth.
These outrageous costs have led to the airport’s slow recovery with passenger traffic remaining at only 87% of pre-covid levels highly disproportional compared to other major European hubs. Consequently, the government risks the airport’s complete isolation from the rest of Europe’s aviation.
While officials claim the tax increase intends to reduce short-haul flights for environmental reasons Ryanair dismisses their cause by characterizing it as hypocritical. The airline also underlines a severe contradiction: while ordinary passengers will face higher costs, private jets and connecting flight passengers will see their tax reduced from €10 to €5.
This scenario undermines the government’s environmental argument but emphasizes Belgium’s primary goal of financial gain over sustainability. Therefore, the new tax will nearly double the revenue from €42 million in 2024 to €70 million.
Ryanair urges the authorities to follow the lead of the mentioned countries by focusing on reviving air travel rather than imposing excessive levies that burden ordinary passengers and hinder recovery. If the government remains adamant about its policies it risks losing competitiveness pushing travellers to alternative hubs and damaging the country’s aviation industry.
Moreover, the tax increase will urge passengers to seek connecting flights that cause more pollution, obstructing the country’s primary sustainability goal. More explicitly, a Ryanair spokesperson said:
Unlike other EU countries like Sweden, Hungary, and regional Italy, which are abolishing aviation taxes and cutting airport charges to maintain competitiveness and stimulate traffic growth, the new Belgian Govt proposes increasing its aviation tax on ordinary passengers by up to 150%. This short-sighted decision will have a detrimental impact on Belgium’s connectivity, traffic, jobs, and economy – particularly at the already very expensive Brussels Zaventem Airport, where charges have increased by over 20% since Covid and traffic has failed to recover at just 87% of its pre-Covid levels.
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