Air ryan ireland stated on 30 july that it would abandon its operations at three french airports because the cheap airline operator could not afford a “day price” air ticket tax from the french government. It called on the french authorities to make adjustments as soon as possible, otherwise investment would be transferred to other european countries。
On 19 april 2021, a flight from ryan air arrived at zafentem airport on the outskirts of brussels, belgium. Xinhua news agency
Ryan airlines said that it would withdraw its operations from its airports in the south-western french cities of brive, bergerak and strasbourg, the eastern city. Ryan airlines currently operates routes from the above-mentioned airports to portugal and scotland. This spring, the airline has withdrawn its operations at the vatri airport in north-eastern france。
According to ryan air, as the french government raised the air ticket tax by 180 per cent in march this year, the company “had to cut its capacity by 13 per cent in the winter of 2025”, which means that 25 routes were cut。
According to agence france presse (afp), higher taxes and fees make it possible for economy class passengers travelling on french domestic routes and on flights to other european countries to pay a “consolidation tax” of 7. 4 euros per person, compared to 2. 63 euros previously。
Air ryan stated that several airlines and french airports had previously warned that a substantial increase in france's airline fare tax would result in many french routes being unprofitable, particularly regional airports and winter operations。
Air ryan urged the french government to eliminate the “harmful” air ticket tax. The company stated: “this daily price tax has made france less competitive than other eu countries, such as ireland, spain and poland, which have not collected any air ticket taxes.”
If the french side does not cancel the tax, it is prepared to transfer its capacity and investment to other more competitive european markets, such as sweden, hungary and italy; if the french side does so, ryan promises to invest $2. 5 billion in the french market, 25 new aircraft and increase its annual capacity to over 30 million, with 750 new jobs. (source: xinhua by shen min)
