Yesterday, the Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair confirmed that it would not be reopening its base on Brussels Airport Zaventem for 2023's summer season after closing its base last winter.
"Despite recent rumours," announced Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary, "we will not be reopening our Brussels Zaventem base in summer 2023 due to Zaventem Airport’s decision to increase prices by 11% for airlines and passengers from April 2023."
Ryanair had not stationed any aircraft at Brussels Airport since the start of the winter season due to the higher cost and the Belgian Government's flight tax, and now stated that it would not return for the summer – basically confirming the announcement made last September.
Back then, O'Leary already said that his company would only return if Belgium reverses its "absurd decision" to implement a flight tax, something which experts do not consider likely.
Still, Ryanair is not disappearing from Belgium completely, as its flights on 109 routes to and from Charleroi will be unaffected by the closure at Zaventem, and 12 routes will also continue to operate to and from Zaventem – on aircraft based outside Belgium.
Does this decision have a big impact on any of your plans? Let @Maajtee know.
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