The Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair will reduce the number of flights to Portugal in the summer of 2024.
Europe’s largest low-cost airline explained this decision by increasing airport fees in Portugal by an average of 14.6% – about 1.60 euros.
“Unfortunately, we are here to announce the cuts because we recently fell victim to the ANA/Vinci monopoly, which has increased airport charges enormously next year. As a result of ANA’s 2023 price increase, Ryanair has closed its Ponta Delgada base this winter.” , – said the head of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, criticizing the company ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, which manages 10 airports throughout the country.
In particular, next summer Ryanair will reduce the number of flights to Faro and Porto airports, where fees will increase by 11.9% and 11.4% respectively. The number of the airline’s aircraft based in Madeira will also be halved.
In addition, as early as the 2023/2024 winter schedule, Ryanair closed its Ponta Delgada base in the Azores, warning that Madeira could follow suit.
To avoid further cuts to Portugal, the head of Ryanair called on ANA to follow the example of other major European airports, especially in Spain, and freeze or reduce charges to encourage the recovery of traffic and tourism in Portugal after COVID.
It is worth noting that the reduced number of flights is also bad news for tourists, as fewer flights mean more expensive tickets due to a lack of available seats and increased demand.
“The situation in Europe will be difficult next summer, there will be fewer places,” O’Leary stated.
We will remind you that this is not the first reduction in the number of flights carried out by Ryanair recently. Thus, in September 2022, the low-cost carrier announced a reduction in the number of flights through Dublin Airport for the winter of 2023/2024 due to an increase in passenger fees. In total, the airline canceled 17 routes through Dublin and transferred 19 aircraft to alternative European airports with more favorable service conditions.
Ryanair also recently announced a reduction in the number of flights through several European airports in the winter 2023/2024 schedule due to delays in the delivery of new Boeing 737 aircraft.