Ryanair, Europe’s leading low-cost airline, has unveiled a four-point manifesto directed at European Union governments through CEO Michael O’Leary. The manifesto calls for actionable steps to boost growth in the aviation sector and support economic recovery across Europe.
“2025 should be a year of competitiveness and growth across Europe,” O’Leary said, highlighting how current regulations and taxes are stifling the potential of aviation. Ryanair emphasized the pivotal role of aviation in driving Europe’s economic progress.
Four Key Proposals in the Manifesto
1. Elimination of Aviation Taxes
- Countries like Sweden, Hungary, and Ireland have eliminated aviation taxes, reaping significant benefits in tourism and traffic growth.
- In contrast, increased taxes in France, Germany, and the UK have negatively impacted traffic.
- Ryanair calls for the total removal of aviation taxes to accelerate economic recovery and enhance mobility within the aviation sector.
2. Reduction and Reform of Air Traffic Control (ATC) Fees
- Since 2020, ATC fees in Europe have increased, while the quality of service has often been inadequate.
- Ryanair proposes adopting the U.S. model to lower or eliminate ATC tariffs.
- The operational issues and delays in summer 2024 highlighted weaknesses in Europe’s ATC system.
3. Solutions to Reduce Delays
Ryanair recommends two key measures to address 90% of delays:
- Full staffing of ATC for morning flights.
- Implementing regulations to maintain flight continuity during ATC strikes.
4. Removal of Traffic Caps
- Ryanair cites the example of the 32 million passenger cap at Dublin Airport as an impediment to growth.
- The airline advocates for lifting such restrictions, emphasizing that it would boost tourism and aviation sector employment.
Call to Action for the EU and National Governments
Ryanair has urged the EU and member states to:
- Eliminate aviation taxes.
- Reform and reduce ATC fees.
- Reassess policies that limit growth.
Ryanair’s Growth Vision
With plans to add over 350 new aircraft to its fleet in the next decade, Ryanair aims to increase its annual passenger numbers from 200 million to 300 million. By addressing the outlined challenges, the airline believes Europe can unlock the full potential of its aviation sector.
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