Ryanair is to end services at Bergerac, Brive, and Strasbourg airports from October due to higher air ticket taxes by the government to France. Ryanair claims it is acting because the French government has failed to cancel the excessive increase in air tax raised by 180pc in March 2025 and this tax makes France less competitive against other EU nations.
The airline warns that this tax will harm regional connectivity and local employment in France. It says that, without changes, France may lose capacity and investment by summer 2026 to more competitive markets. It mentioned Ireland, Spain, and Poland as examples of countries without such taxes.
Ryanair previously threatening to end services to ten regional airports in France. The airline said traffic to and from France would be reduced by 50pc if the proposed tax rises are not removed.
Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer promised potential growth investment if the air tax is abolished. Jason McGuinness shared “As France should focus on recovery and growth, Ryanair has no choice but to reduce its capacity for winter 2025 by 13pc due to the French government’s failure to act against this detrimental air tax — which was raised by over 180pc earlier this year. This completely avoidable loss will have a severe impact on regional connectivity, tourism, and local employment. Unless the government changes course and abolishes this unjust air tax, Ryanair’s capacity and investments in France will inevitably be redirected towards more competitive European markets. This would allow French regional airports to benefit from strong growth in traffic, tourism, and employment in the coming years. This astronomical tax makes France less competitive compared to other EU countries such as Ireland, Spain and Poland, which do not impose any air taxes.”
