Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary has warned of an "extremely challenging" winter amid the surge in fuel costs as he said the airline will withdraw its planes from an airport in Brussels amid a row over rates and taxes.
The move announced at a press conference in the Belgian capital yesterday will result in a third of the Irish company's budget flights disappearing from Brussels Zaventem, which is the main airport in the city, until at least next March.
Mr O'Leary said it was due to a planned rise in airport rates and the introduction of a flight tax - adding that airport charges are 300% to 400% higher at Zaventem than at Charleroi, which is the other major hub in Brussels.
He had previously hoped to expand operations at Zaventem, but the airport is now reviewing its rates - and the Belgian federal government introduced a flight tax in April of €2 to €10 depending on destination.
Mr O'Leary said that Ryanair will not return to Zaventem until the airport reduces its rates and the flight tax is removed, reported Belgian newspaper De Standaard.
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The 61-year-old added: "This winter is going to be extremely challenging, with higher fuel costs, so an increase in airport charges like in Zaventem is not sustainable."
It comes after Ryanair confirmed last week that it would close its base at Athens International for the winter - from the end of this October to the end of next March - due to the airport operator's "dysfunctional" charging scheme. This will see the airline remove two planes from the airport, reducing scheduled flights by about two thirds.
Ryanair has faced strike action from Belgian pilots and cabin crew this year in protest at working conditions, but Mr O'Leary said this did not influence the move out of Zaventem.
He said the 80 Ryanair staff based in Zaventem will be moved to Charleroi or other airports in neighbouring countries, "at less cost", adding: "They can stay in warmer places than Brussels this winter."
Aviation expert Riadh Bahri told Belgian broadcaster VRT: "O'Leary has already threatened this five times in recent years. He doesn't talk about Zaventem with much love. That airport is eight times more expensive to fly than Charleroi."
Elsewhere, Ryanair's Spanish cabin crew union members plan to strike from Monday to Thursday every week until January 7 to press demands for higher pay and better conditions.
Ryanair flew a record number of passengers for the fourth month in a row in August as it consolidated its position as Europe's largest airline by passenger numbers.
