400,000 Passengers Affected as Ryanair Cancels All Azores Flights Over French Tax Hikes.

Ryanair Pulls Out of the Azores

According to Novyny.live: Starting March 29, 2026, Ryanair will halt all flights to and from the Azores archipelago. The low-cost carrier is blaming a steep rise in French aviation taxes for the decision. This move will impact roughly 400,000 passengers who fly these routes each year.

The cancellations come after France imposed a 120% increase in airline taxes, along with a brand-new tourist levy. Ryanair executives have openly criticized the French airport monopoly ANA, accusing it of using Portugal's airports as a cash cow.

“We are disappointed that the French airport monopoly ANA continues to hike Portuguese airport charges to line its own pockets—at the expense of Portuguese tourism and jobs, especially on the Portuguese islands.”

Jason McGuinness

Tourism Under Threat

The suspension of Azores flights highlights how new financial burdens can disrupt travel patterns in the region. Travelers who had booked trips to the islands may now struggle to find alternative connections.

This development underscores the critical role that aviation tax policies play in shaping tourism, particularly for economies heavily reliant on visitor spending. Ryanair's withdrawal could lead to a drop in tourist arrivals in the Azores, putting pressure on local businesses and employment.

Aviation fees and government regulation in this sector will remain a hot topic in the months ahead.