The low-cost airline Ryanair has decided to permanently close the Brussels-Zaventem base. The base was abandoned a few weeks ago. Although the airport will continue to be headed for, there will no longer be any aircraft on site. The unions have already been informed of the decision.

So far, Ryanair had stationed two machines at Belgium's largest airport. The base in Charleroi, which is also marketed as Brussels by the low-cost airline, is much larger. In the 2022/23 winter flight schedule, the two Boeing 737s have already been relocated to other airports. Originally it was said that the Zaventem base should be reactivated in the summer flight schedule 2022/23.

But it doesn't come to that. Ryanair is bothered by the airport fees and the recently increased Belgian ticket tax. As early as September 2022, CEO Michael O'Leary rumbled: "In addition to this stupid tax, the CEO of Brussels Airport decided to raise prices". The tax increase is expected to come into effect in April 2023.

Belgian unions fear the 94 Ryanair employees stationed in Zaventem could lose their jobs. “Contrary to recent rumours, we will not reopen our base in Brussels Zaventem for S23, as Zaventem Airport has decided to increase airline and passenger prices by 2023% from April 11. However, customers can still book Ryanair's low fares on 12 Zaventem routes, which will continue to be served from/to Brussels Zaventem for S23 with aircraft based outside of Belgium,” says O'Leary.

However, the closure of the base is said to have no impact on activities in Charleroi. Zaventem will be served from other bases in the 2023 summer flight schedule. A total of 12 routes are currently planned. These are Barcelona, ​​Mallorca, Berlin, Marrakech, Dublin, Pisa, Girona, Porto, Madrid, Rome, Malaga and Valencia.