Good news for Moroccans in Belgium

Travelers to Morocco can breathe a sigh of relief. Ryanair announced on Saturday that it will operate its full program for the summer of 2026 from its Belgian base in Charleroi. This turnaround follows the decision of the Walloon authorities to abandon the introduction of a municipal tax of 3 euros per passenger, which the Irish carrier described as "regressive".

This announcement lifts the uncertainty that hung over connectivity with the Kingdom. Last December, the company had threatened to cut one million seats and withdraw five aircraft based in Belgium, specifically targeting historic routes to Tangier, Oujda, Nador and Rabat. Instead of the feared reduction, Ryanair will ultimately increase its offer by 9% compared to the summer of 2025, offering 7.5 million seats on 112 routes.

While the Charleroi "bastion" is saved for the summer, the fiscal tug-of-war persists. The company maintains pressure on the Belgian federal government regarding the national tax on tickets, which is supposed to gradually increase to 10 euros by 2027. Ryanair warns that without an adjustment of this federal taxation, threats of fleet and frequency reductions could resurface for the winter program 2026-2027.