Belgium’s newly installed coalition government is proposing to increase its airline departure taxes.
The administration led by Bart De Wever, who became Belgian prime minister earlier this month, wants to increase the rates charged through its federal flight tax which was introduced in 2022.
Currently, there is a so-called “boarding tax” of €10 per passenger for short-haul flights of less than 500 kilometres. While longer flights inside the EU incur a tax of €2 per passenger and longer routes travelling outside the EU incur a €4 fee.
But the Belgium government wants to increase the latter two charges to €5 per passenger, while the €10 fee for flights of less than 500kms will remain at the same level.
Ryanair was quick to condemn the move and pointed out that the tax on connecting and private jet passengers would be cut from €10 to €5 per passenger if the proposals are implemented.
“Unlike other EU countries like Sweden, Hungary and regional Italy, which are abolishing aviation taxes and cutting airport charges to maintain competitiveness and stimulate traffic growth, the new Belgian government is proposing to increase its aviation tax on ordinary passengers by up to 150 per cent,” said a Ryanair spokesperson.
“This short-sighted decision will have a detrimental impact on Belgium’s connectivity, traffic, jobs and economy – particularly at the already very expensive Brussels Zaventem Airport, where charges have increased by over 20 per cent since Covid and traffic has failed to recover at just 87 per cent of its pre-Covid levels.”