“This exorbitant tax, coupled with Austria’s very high airport and security fees, is damaging Austria’s competitiveness as a tourist destination compared to lower-cost EU countries such as Sweden, Hungary and regions of Italy, all of which are abolishing aviation tax and reducing access costs to secure traffic and tourism growth,” Ryanair said in a statement.
All the Ryanair destinations axed from major UK airports – full list
Ryanair has announced a series of route cuts across Europe, with several UK airports facing reduced services in 2025.
The airline cites increased taxes and operational costs as the primary reasons for these changes, particularly in Spain, Denmark, Italy, and France.
Here’s a breakdown of the affected airports:
London Stansted Airport
- Aalborg, Denmark: Service ends in March 2025.
- Jerez, Spain: Service to this Andalusian destination will cease.
- Valladolid, Spain: All flights to this Spanish city will be discontinued.
Bournemouth Airport
- Agadir, Morocco: Service stopping 10 months after its launch.
- Budapest, Hungary: Flights end in April 2025.
However, a number of cuts to other European destinations are also potentially on the chopping block.
Italy
Ryanair is adjusting its operations in response to municipal surcharges in Italy’s major airports.
- Rome Fiumicino – one aircraft removed, halting growth at the country’s largest airport
- Rome Ciampino – no growth planned due to operational restrictions
Denmark
Denmark’s introduction of a new aviation tax has prompted Ryanair to scale back operations.
- Aalborg – all flights cancelled, including the London Stansted route
- Billund Airport – base closure, affecting 32 routes and 1.7 million seats
France
While no specific routes have been axed yet, Ryanair has issued warnings about potential cuts.
- Routes from Paris and Bordeaux already suspended
- Threat to cut capacity at up to 10 regional airports if aviation taxes increase further
Austria
High air traffic charges have led Ryanair to shift its strategy in Austria.
- Preference for Linz and Salzburg over Vienna due to a €12 tax increase
- Potential fare hikes for Vienna departures
Referring to the cuts in flights to Spain, Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson said: “Excessive airport charges and lack of workable growth incentives continue to undermine Spain’s regional airports, limiting their growth and leaving vast swathes of airport’s capacity underutilised.”
Austria will also see less Ryanair traffic after introducing a £9.99 air traffic tax.
Express.co.uk has approached Ryanair for comment.
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