Two big airlines, Ryanair and Wizz Air, have warned that rising airport charges and the Air Passenger Duty could push carriers to relocate aircraft outside the UK. According to the Financial Times, both executives argue that tax increases threaten the country’s economic growth and may divert future investments to other European markets.
Wizz Air’s Chief Operating Officer, Michael Delehant, said there is “a real risk that UK aviation will experience a slowdown in growth.” He cited the company’s recent decision to withdraw all flights from Vienna and move aircraft to Bratislava, Slovakia, due to higher airport fees. “Vienna was the perfect example. That’s your case study,” he told FT.
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In a separate statement, Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair, warned that higher passenger taxes could mean fewer new aircraft for UK routes. “If Reeves raises the tax further, we’ll redirect new aircraft to cheaper locations,” he said, noting that Ryanair has 300 new planes on order and will allocate them based on route profitability.
Rising costs and economic implications
British airports have also voiced concern that higher commercial rates could threaten expansion projects, such as Gatwick’s second runway. Wizz Air, which bases 19 aircraft in the UK, already considers Gatwick’s prices “unsustainable.”
“If you pay 50–60 euros in taxes before leaving the gate, it’s not sustainable. People won’t buy that service,” Delehant explained.
According to Airports UK, each aircraft stationed in the country supports around 400 jobs and adds £27 million annually to the economy. However, with tax increases looming, airlines warn that this contribution may soon shift abroad.
Wilson concluded: “Airlines are the most mobile investment in the world. The grey men in the Treasury don’t get that — they think planes just sit there. Growth will simply go where taxes aren’t rising.”
Photo: The Times
