In 2026, Ryanair has announced significant reductions in its flight network across Europe, primarily driven by increased airport costs and taxes imposed by various governments. The airline plans to eliminate approximately three million seats and suspend several routes at regional airports, including in Germany, Spain, France, Belgium, Portugal, Bosnia, and Serbia. Notable airports affected include Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne, Memmingen, Frankfurt-Hahn, Dresden, Dortmund, Leipzig, and Santiago de Compostela, among others. The airline has criticized high access costs and aviation taxes, especially in Germany, where it asserts that government policies hinder competitiveness. Ryanair's decision aims to reallocate capacity to markets with lower operational costs, though the airline has expressed openness to restoring services if conditions improve.
The reductions will also impact several destinations in Spain, with the airline ceasing flights to Asturias, Vigo, and Tenerife North, as well as closing bases at Santiago de Compostela and Valladolid. In France, services to Bergerac are set to resume temporarily for summer 2026, but further cuts are anticipated pending negotiations. Belgian routes from Brussels and Charleroi will see a 22 percent capacity decrease due to new aviation taxes, with several routes and bases being phased out. The airline’s planned withdrawal extends to Portugal's Azores, where all routes will be discontinued, partly due to rising airport fees and taxes. In the Balkans, services from Bosnia and Serbia will also be reduced to reallocate resources to more demanding markets. Despite the scope of these cuts, Ryanair has stated that they remain willing to increase capacity again should regulatory and cost factors become more favorable.
