Ryanair’s Threat to Azores Tourism: Cutting All Routes by 2026

Budget travelers who have come to rely on affordable access to the breathtaking Azores archipelago may soon need to rethink their plans. Ryanair, Europe’s largest low-cost carrier, has announced a dramatic decision to terminate all flights to this remote Atlantic paradise beginning March 2026. The Irish airline points to escalating airport fees, new environmental taxes, and what it characterizes as Portuguese government inaction as the primary factors behind this potential withdrawal. This move would eliminate year-round connections between the Azores and major European cities including London, Brussels, Lisbon, and Porto—potentially isolating the islands from budget travelers who have fueled its tourism boom in recent years.

At the heart of Ryanair’s complaint is what it calls the “French airport monopoly ANA,” operated by the Vinci group, which manages Portugal’s airports. According to the airline, ANA has implemented unsustainable fee increases—up to 35% since 2020—without facing competitive pressures that might otherwise keep prices in check. Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer Jason McGuinness claims these rising operational costs, combined with Portugal’s post-pandemic increases in air traffic control fees and the country’s €2 per-passenger travel tax, leave the airline with “no alternative” but to terminate its Azores services. The carrier further criticizes what it labels “anti-competitive environmental taxes,” specifically targeting the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) that applies to flights within Europe but exempts long-haul routes to destinations like the United States or Middle East countries. This disparity, Ryanair argues, creates an uneven playing field that particularly disadvantages short-haul carriers.

The implications for the Azores tourism sector could be profound if Ryanair follows through with this threat. The airline currently operates six routes to the islands, carrying approximately 400,000 passengers annually. This announcement is not Ryanair’s first confrontation with Portuguese authorities—in 2023, the company reduced capacity on 40 routes at Faro and Porto airports, describing planned tax increases as “bizarre” and warning about steep rises in Lisbon’s passenger fees scheduled for 2024. The potential withdrawal from the Azores represents an escalation in this ongoing dispute, placing significant pressure on local tourism economies that have grown increasingly dependent on the affordable access that low-cost carriers provide. For nature enthusiasts and adventure travelers who have discovered the volcanic landscapes, hot springs, and marine wildlife of these islands, Ryanair’s departure could substantially increase the cost barrier to experiencing this unique destination.

The Azores situation is merely one component of Ryanair’s broader strategy to reshape its European network in response to what it perceives as unfavorable economic conditions across multiple markets. The airline has already announced suspensions of winter services to Spanish cities including Vigo and Santiago de Compostela, while simultaneously planning to eliminate several popular winter routes in Germany—affecting Berlin, Hamburg, and Dortmund. Similarly, French regional airports in Brive, Bergerac, and Strasbourg face imminent Ryanair withdrawals as the carrier describes these locations as “no longer viable” under current cost structures. This pattern suggests a comprehensive reevaluation of Ryanair’s route network, with the carrier apparently willing to follow through on threats to abandon markets that don’t meet its profitability thresholds, regardless of the potential impact on local tourism economies.

For travelers planning future trips to the Azores, this development raises significant concerns about affordability and accessibility. The archipelago has emerged as one of Europe’s fastest-growing nature destinations in recent years, with Ryanair’s low-fare offerings helping to keep overall travel costs manageable for budget-conscious visitors. If the airline proceeds with canceling all services, travelers could face a substantial reduction in flight options and potentially significant price increases. While several other carriers do serve the Azores—including TAP, Iberia, Lufthansa, TUI, and low-cost operator Transavia—these airlines primarily connect through major hubs rather than offering the direct links to European cities that Ryanair currently provides. The question remains whether these existing carriers will expand their Azores services to fill the potential gap, as has happened in other markets where Ryanair has previously scaled back operations. When the airline reduced Spanish routes earlier this year, competitors quickly responded by adding flights to popular destinations like Lanzarote, Tenerife, and Barcelona.

It’s worth noting that Ryanair’s announcement represents a threat rather than an immediate certainty, with the projected withdrawal not scheduled to begin until March 2026. This timeline potentially leaves room for negotiations between the airline, airport operators, and Portuguese authorities. The situation mirrors Ryanair’s established negotiating strategy of publicly announcing service cuts to gain leverage in discussions over fees and taxes. For travelers concerned about future access to the Azores, the situation bears watching over the coming months. No replacement carriers have yet announced plans to increase routes to the islands if Ryanair departs. With the archipelago’s tourism industry heavily dependent on affordable air connections, visitors may indeed find this stunning Atlantic destination becoming less accessible and more expensive in the near future—unless a resolution emerges that addresses Ryanair’s concerns while maintaining the vital air links that have helped transform the Azores into an increasingly popular European nature destination.