From July 2022, Hungary will charge airlines with a flight tax ranging from 10 to 25 euros per passenger and departure. This is not only met with resistance from the airlines, but consumer protection has Ryanair in their sights, as passengers are asked to pay afterwards.

Viktor Orban, who governs by decree due to emergency laws, wants to skim off profits from large companies such as energy suppliers, banks, telecom companies and airlines with the help of special taxes. The Prime Minister also chose the increasing demand in the aviation industry. According to his regulation, the flight tax should not be borne by the passengers, but by the airlines. They want to take profits away from companies and put them, for example, into upgrading the military.

The so-called "extra profit tax" should amount to between 10 euros and 25 euros, depending on the flight distance. In contrast to ticket taxes in other countries, the airlines should pay for them. Naturally, that doesn't suit them. Homebase carrier Wizz Air, who has not yet commented on Viktor Orban's plans, is remarkably quiet.

Ryanair, on the other hand, is threatening to withdraw capacity from Hungary and is asking passengers who already have tickets for departures from July 2022 to pay afterwards. The procedure has been sharply criticized by Hungarian consumer protection, which wants to initiate proceedings against the low-cost airline.

“This unjustified tax on the aviation sector, which has been making heavy losses for the past two years, will harm Hungarian tourism and the economy, which depends on airlines for connections, tourism and jobs. This ill-timed and ill-advised 'extra profit' tax, which inexplicably compares the loss-making airline industry to hugely profitable oil and energy companies, immediately rendered Hungary uncompetitive and less attractive to airlines and tourists,” Ryanair said.

Economy Minister wants to take action against Ryanair

Ryanair has written to passengers on the carrier with tickets for departure dates after July 1, 2022 that they must decide by June 16, 2022 whether to pay the new tax or cancel the booking for a full refund. Within Europe, they charge ten euros afterwards and on routes that leave the continent, 25 euros. It is piquant that Ryanair explains in the cover letter that if the passenger does not react, the means of payment used for the booking will simply be charged with the required additional payment.

Hungary's Economics Minister Márton Nagy has already spoken and said, among other things, that he considers this practice to be inadmissible. Furthermore, Ryanair's behavior towards passengers would be unfair. “The government has decided to levy taxes on excessive profits from airlines, among others, to protect Hungarian families. The government has made it clear to all concerned that it will monitor market developments closely and will do everything possible to prevent the excessive taxes from being passed on to the general public. The government has announced in advance that it will thoroughly investigate each of these cases and take vigorous action against harmful practices," the government official said.

An investigation is now being launched against Ryanair based on consumer protection laws. The Ministry of Economics is also examining appropriate measures to prevent Irish low-cost retailers from demanding additional payments. Consumer protection organizations have also announced that they want to take action against the low-cost airline. Ryanair's arch-rival Wizz Air is not only keeping quiet at the moment, but there are currently no indications that it could also ask to pay later.