13-03-2025
What happened Ryanair's threats to pull out of France over 'eco tax'?
As the French parliament debated the 2025 budget, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary repeated threats to axe flights to French airports as a result of an increased 'eco tax' on flights.
He told a press conference on February 5th: "France is already a high-tax country and, therefore, if it further increases already high taxes, we will probably reduce our capacity" to and from French airports.
The following day, French MPs in the Assemblée nationale voted to adopt the budget - complete with increases to the eco tax (among many other measures).
The new rates of eco tax came into effect on March 1st.
So far, O'Leary has not made any further statements.
What has Ryanair done so far?
According to a press release by the Marne département - located in north-eastern France which contains the Champagne capital of Reims - Ryanair is reportedly planning to cancel its operations from Vatry (XCR) airport from March 29th.
This would lead to the closure of two routes that connect Vatry airport with Porto, Portugal and Marrakech, Morocco.
Although Ryanair has not given a reason for the closure at the tiny airport, local authorities in the area specified that the decision "follows the increase in the TSBA voted as part of the government's Finance Act of 2025."
They added: "The département of Marne regrets that the increase in the TSBA will penalise regional airports and their users to the benefit of other countries that do not tax air transport.
"Increasing the charges levied on airlines leads directly to a reduction in transport services, to the detriment of local populations and businesses."
Local authorities said it would cause significant financial losses.
The département said: "In 2024, 85 percent of the tourist activity at XCR airport, as it is now known, was generated by these routes, representing 74,000 passengers out of a total of 86,000. In the light of the latest announcements, this dominance poses a major threat to the airport's future."
Since February 6th, Ryanair has made no further announcements on services in or out of France.
What did Ryanair originally threaten?
Initially, the company threatened to scrap up to half of operations at its 22 French regional airports in response to the original proposal (under the former Barnier government) to triple the eco tax.
In the end, the increase to the eco tax, also known as the taxe sur les billets d'avion (TSBA), was slightly lower than first planned, increasing the basic rate of the tax on plane tickets from €2.63 to €7.40.
In 2024 the company pulled out of Bordeaux airport in a separate dispute over airport fees.
Will there be more operations cancelled?
It is possible that Ryanair might scrap other flights or reduce operations at other French regional airports. You can keep up to date with the latest at the Travel News section of The Local France.
