Ryanair to axe London-Brussels route

Ryanair is to suspend flights between Stansted and Charleroi, near Brussels. The no-frills carrier is to withdraw its eight flights a day from the route from 29 April, the start of the airline’s summer schedule. The closure of the route, which claims to account for 360,000 passengers a year, is in direct response to the European Commission imposing a fine on Ryanair after ruling that the airline had received illegal incentives to use the airport. The carrier is appealing against the decision at the European Court in Luxembourg. The cutback in flights will represent a 10% reduction in daily services at Charleroi, according to Ryanair. The airline’s chief executive Michael O’Leary said: “This route cannot be sustained if costs are to be increased as a result of the Commission’s decision to increase ticket prices by 6-8 Euros per ticket.” He warned of other flight reductions and route closures from the Belgian airport if the airline is unable to reach a new agreement with local authorities to maintain it as a low cost base. Capacity on the Charleroi route will be switched to other routes operating from Stansted, Prestwick, Luton and Stockholm Skavsta airports. Report by Phil Davies