Ryanair to scrap popular routes across Europe including Spain, Italy and Denmark this year
RYANAIR has announced more cancellations to their European flights.
After the news of rising aviation tax, the airline have decided to stop certain flights to Spain, Italy and Denmark as well as Hungary, Morocco and Austria.
Hungary
Ryanair has stopped flights from Bournemouth to Budapest.
In a post on social media, an airport spokesperson said: “Unfortunately the Budapest flight from Bournemouth will no longer run past April 2025 as per the airline’s decision.”
Austria
Austria will also see less Ryanair traffic after introducing a £9.99 air traffic tax.
Denmark
Ryanair are set to cancel all trips to and from Aalborg, after Denmark announced new aviation taxes.
The new tax has introduced a 50DKK (£5.57) fee for all passengers departing Denmark, which is paid for by airlines.
At the end of January 2025, Ryanair also announced they would be closing their base at Billund airport.
A Ryanair spokesperson said: “We are very disappointed to announce the closure of our 2 aircraft Billund base and our operations at Aalborg from the end of March.
“But we have been left with no other choice following the Danish Govt’s short-sighted decision to introduce a harmful aviation tax from Jan 2025.”
They continued to add: “Ryanair is the only major airline growing in Europe, and cost is the main factor when deciding where to allocate aircraft and growth.
“Unfortunately, this harmful aviation tax makes Denmark (especially regional Denmark) hopelessly uncompetitive compared to other EU countries, like Sweden, Hungary, and Italian regions, who are abolishing aviation taxes to stimulate traffic recovery and growth.
“As a result, Denmark’s connectivity, traffic, jobs, economic recovery, and growth will suffer irreparable damage – particularly in regional airports where they are reliant on efficient, low-cost air travel – as this capacity (1.7m seats, 32 routes, and 2 aircraft) is reallocated to lower cost airports elsewhere in the extensive Ryanair Group.”
Morocco
The airline has confirmed that they would be calling the flight from Bournemouth Airport to Agadir at the beginning of February, just 10 months after they were launched.
Germany
Ryanair will no longer have a base at German airports, Dortmund, Dresden and Leipzig.
Hamburg flights will also be reduced in the summer reaching a total of 22 routes from the airline’s roster.
Italy
Ryanair plan to remove one of its aircraft from the Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, which is the largest in Italy.
This is due to the government’s decision to a municipal surcharge at major Italian airports starting on 1 April 2025.
Spain
Spain is a hotspot when it comes to bagging a cheap flight because it’s so close to the UK, so the country will be affected by Ryanair’s latest plans.
The airline have announced they will be cutting air traffic over 2025 by 18 per cent. In terms of seats, this equates to 800,000.
A total of 12 routes to the country will be cut with Ryanair completely stopping operations at Jerez and Valladolid airport.
Ryanair’s CEO Eddie Wilson said: “Aena’s 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.”
He added: “Aena persists with unjustified charge hikes and refuses to implement effective incentive schemes to support Spain’s regional growth, instead prioritising foreign investments in airports across the Caribbean, UK, and the Americas.”
As a result, Ryanair will “cease its entire Jerez and Valladolid operations” they will also “reduce traffic in Vigo, Santiago, Zaragoza, Asturias, and Santander in 2025”.
France
While there have been no announcements to stop routes to and from France, the country is planning on increasing its aviation tax this year.
According to Metro, the tax on an economy class short-haul flight within France or Europe will rise from €2.63 to €7.40 on flights departing from France.
Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s chief executive recently said that Ryanair would consider reducing their services if the taxes were to increase.
Advice for flying with Ryanair
- All Ryanair passengers can bring a small personal bag on board but this must fit under the seat in front of you, but it must be no bigger than 40cm x 20cm x 25cm
- Any over-sized cabin bags will be refused at the boarding gate and put in the hold for a fee
- Ryanair also charges passengers up to £55 check-in at the airport
- Anyone who loses their card at the airport will have to pay a £20 reissue fee
- Book to sit in the front five rows if you want to head off the plane first
- Extra legroom seats can be found in rows 1 A, B, C or 2 D, E, F as well as row 16 and 17 near the emergency exit
- The worst seat on Ryanair’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft is also 11A because of its lack of window.
Here are tips from Sun Travel on how to keep a trip with Ryanair just as cheap as the ticket price.
And the news that customers will no longer get caught out with the £55 charge thanks to new rules.