Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, always controversial, has gotten into another fight, this time with one of the airports in Brussels (Belgium), from which it will withdraw part of its planes in the middle of a dispute over fees and fares. The move will mean the disappearance of a third of the Irish carrier’s flights at the terminal at Zaventem, the city’s main airport, until at least March next year.
O’Leary said this is due to an increase in airport charges and the introduction of a flight tax, adding that airport charges are 300% to 400% higher at Zaventem than at Charleroi, which is Brussels’ other major airport.
He had previously hoped to expand operations at Zaventem, but the airport is increasing its charges and the Belgian government introduced a flight fee of between €2 and €10 per passenger, depending on the destination. O’Leary said Ryanair will not return to Zaventem until the airport reduces its fees and the flight tax is eliminated, Belgian newspaper De Standaard reported.
As reported by our sister outlet Aeroin, Ryanair faced a strike this year by Belgian pilots and crew in protest over working conditions, but O’Leary said that did not influence his departure from Zaventem. He said the 80 staff based there will be transferred to Charleroi or other airports in neighboring countries, «at a lower cost,» adding, «This winter they can stay in warmer places than Brussels.»
«Brussels airport is a very badly managed airport and [CEO] Feist doesn’t understand aviation at all. His airport is still operating a quarter less than before the crown. Our strategy has not failed at premium airports, on the contrary, we are growing there,» Ryanair’s CEO said in an interview with another newspaper, De Tijd.
