Ryanair to withdraw from airport in north of France
The airline has threatened to cut services to 10 regional airports across France
Two flights from the carrier represent the vast majority of travel to and from the airport
Toni. M / Shutterstock
Ryanair is withdrawing from an airport in northern France in the coming weeks in a row over new taxes on air travel.
The low-cost airline is ending all services to and from Paris-Vatry Airport (Marne) by the end of the month, announced the department which owns the airport on Thursday (March 13).
Ryanair’s year-long routes to Morocco and Portugal account for up to 85% of passenger numbers from the small airport.
Paris-Vatry – also known as XCR – has not officially commented on the announcement.
Tax on airlines
The airline previously threatened to withdraw from 10 regional airports after then-prime minister Michel Barnier announced an increase in airline taxes in his scrapped 2025 budget.
A slightly watered-down version of these taxes was included in the budget passed in March, causing Ryanair to reiterate its intentions.
Read more: Low-cost airline to charge passengers extra tax on already booked French flights
The airline has not disclosed which airports would be affected.
Loss of €500,000 to local economy
“The elimination of these two lines will have harmful consequences for our entire territory and for the Marne population,” said the department (quoted in local media France3).
The department predicts it will result in a €500,000 loss in 2025, and says the move devastates a service it deems “essential in a rural and isolated area.”
It is “working to ensure that the elimination does not have any impact on jobs in our infrastructure,” it added, however there is of course a threat that jobs are at risk.
“It is a disaster,” said president of the departmental council, Jean-Marc Roze.
Read more: Change to Ryanair boarding process delayed to November 2025: French flights affected
