Ryanair has announced its decision to discontinue all flights to the Azores islands starting March 29, 2026. The airline attributed this move to escalating expenses and travel taxes. Previously, Ryanair operated six routes to and from the Azores, including seasonal services from London Stansted and Bristol Airport between April and October, as well as connections from mainland Portugal, such as Lisbon and Porto.
CCO of Ryanair, Jason McGuinness, expressed disappointment over the situation. He criticized the French airport monopoly ANA for increasing Portuguese airport fees, affecting tourism and employment in Portugal, especially on the islands. Due to the mounting costs, Ryanair had no choice but to cancel all Azores flights from March 29, 2026, and redirect capacity to more cost-effective airports within the broader Ryanair Group network across Europe.
McGuinness highlighted the impact of high airport charges imposed by VINCI, the French airport operator, across Portugal, coupled with EU environmental taxes favoring long-haul flights over EU remote regions like the Azores. After a decade of providing affordable flights to the Azores, Ryanair’s decision will result in the loss of direct low-fare connections to major destinations like London, Brussels, Lisbon, and Porto.
The airline urged the Portuguese government to intervene, emphasizing the need for airports to benefit the local population rather than serving the interests of a foreign airport monopoly like VINCI. With Ryanair discontinuing its Azores flights, British travelers now have only one direct option via British Airways, which offers seasonal flights from London Heathrow to Ponta Delgada Airport during peak summer months, with connecting flights available throughout the rest of the year.
This move is not isolated, as Ryanair had previously ceased operations at several regional airports in 2025 due to cost concerns and has threatened to withdraw from additional French airports due to increased taxes. McGuinness highlighted a significant tax hike in France affecting domestic and European flights, resulting in higher ticket costs.
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