Ryanair CEO criticizes von der Leyen, announces increase in air ticket prices

The CEO of the airline Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, sharply criticized EU institutions today over emissions taxes that threaten European competitiveness, demanding that American and Chinese airlines also pay the same tax.

This Irish low-cost airline has announced the cancellation of one million seats on flights from Belgium this winter, and O’Leary warned that next year air ticket prices will rise significantly due to higher taxes and increased fuel costs.

In an interview with Brussels-based Euronews, O’Leary said that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is “useless,” that she only talks about competitiveness but does nothing to improve it.

“You have a ship of fools in the European Parliament devising new regulations aimed at increasing the costs of air travel when consumers want lower ticket prices,” O’Leary said.

He criticized the EU’s environmental taxes, which apply only to flights within the bloc, while American, Asian, and Chinese airlines are exempt, even though they produce more than half of the emissions in European air traffic.

“No one would devise such a stupid system except the European Parliament and Ursula von der Leyen. If you are serious about competitiveness, impose a tax on Americans when they land in Europe,” O’Leary said.

Long-haul flights operated by European as well as American, Asian, and Chinese airlines are subject to a lower UN system for regulating emissions. These flights account for only six percent of departures but are responsible for more than half of the carbon dioxide emissions in European air traffic, according to data from the organization Eurocontrol.

The European Commission proposed in July to extend the EU tax to certain flights departing from Europe starting in 2029.

According to this proposal, for example, flights from Frankfurt to Dubai or Istanbul would be included in the carbon emissions trading system, while longer flights, such as to Tokyo, would be excluded. Flights from the USA and China would also be exempt.

O’Leary recalled that former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi wrote a report on EU competitiveness, but that two years later none of his recommendations have been implemented.

“Ursula von der Leyen is afraid to do anything except talk. She is useless,” O’Leary said.

In his opinion, a “fair and reasonable” tax should be introduced on every flight departing from or landing in Europe.

Ryanair will cancel 20 routes from Belgium this winter, after the Belgian government increased the air transport tax by two euros, to seven euros per ticket. This is less than the ten euros originally proposed, but it was reduced due to industry pressure.

“We are relocating planes to countries that are competitive. Belgium, France, and Germany are not competitive,” O’Leary said.

The new tax in Belgium is still lower than in neighboring countries. In the Netherlands, 30.25 euros are charged per passenger leaving the country, and Germany charges 13.03 euros for almost all European flights.

O’Leary said that passengers can expect significantly more expensive tickets next year due to higher oil prices, which are rising under the influence of the conflict in the Middle East.