Ryanair Cancels UK-Morocco Route Over Future Tax Hike

Last October, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced an increase in the air passenger tax (APD) from the 2026/27 fiscal year. At this deadline, the APD will increase from 13 to 15 pounds sterling for short-haul economy class flights. In reaction to this increase, the airline Ryanair, which has been operating the Bournemouth-Agadir route since April 2024, the first to Africa for the British airport, has decided to cancel this route.

This decision comes in a context of tensions between the CEO of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, and the British authorities. The boss of the Irish low-cost company does not miss an opportunity to criticize the economic policy of Chancellor Rachel Reeves. In a recent statement, he questioned the Heathrow airport expansion project, which plans to build a third runway, describing it as a "diversion" and estimating that it will not be completed before 2040.

O’Leary also stated that the British Treasury was "totally disconnected from economic reality," calling on the British government to abolish the APD to stimulate air traffic and promote growth. If this tax is abolished, Ryanair will increase its traffic by 30 million passengers to and from British airports in four years, he added.