Ryanair to Slash French Regional Flights Over Tax Hike

Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline, has announced plans to significantly reduce operations at 10 regional airports across France if the French government moves forward with a proposed 260% passenger tax increase. Scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025, this tax hike is seen by the airline as a direct threat to regional connectivity and economic growth.

In a statement released on November 20, 2024, Ryanair criticized the tax plan as “short-sighted” and “anti-growth,” claiming it unfairly targets regional French travelers while sparing wealthy long-haul passengers from Paris. The airline argues that the increased costs will make France less competitive compared to countries like Spain and Poland, which impose no air travel taxes, or others such as Italy and Sweden, which are actively reducing or abolishing such taxes to boost connectivity and tourism.

Ryanair Chief Commercial Officer Jason McGuinness warned that the tax would lead to higher fares, reduced tourism, and significant job losses, particularly in regional France. He noted that France’s air traffic recovery already lags behind other European countries due to its existing tax policies and that this hike will only worsen the situation.

As part of its response, Ryanair has begun reviewing its schedules and plans to cut capacity to and from French regional airports by 50% starting January 2025. This move would affect regional connectivity and reduce the competitiveness of these destinations for tourism and airline investments.

Ryanair’s criticism also highlights broader European trends. The airline praised Sweden for its recent decision to abolish aviation tax starting mid-2025, which led Ryanair to increase its commitment to the Swedish market by adding 10 new routes and creating 60 new jobs. Conversely, in October 2024, Ryanair announced it would withdraw all flights from three German airports and reduce services at Hamburg Airport due to high taxes and fees.

The Irish carrier’s firm stance against aviation taxes underscores its belief that lower costs lead to greater connectivity, economic growth, and job creation. With the French government yet to finalize its decision, Ryanair continues to advocate for the abandonment of the tax plan to preserve regional jobs, tourism, and investments.

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