Europe’s leading budget airline, Ryanair, is bringing exciting news to Copenhagen travelers with the announcement of its Winter 2024 schedule. The airline is expanding its network from the Danish capital, adding four new destinations: Barcelona, Bristol, Poznan, and Sofia. These additions will offer Danish travelers and visitors even more affordable options to explore Europe’s vibrant cities and hidden gems.
Ryanair’s investment in Copenhagen is a testament to its commitment to driving tourism and offering competitive airfares. This expansion comes at a time when the airline is facing a potential roadblock in Denmark: the government’s proposed Aviation Tax. The proposed tax, set to take effect in January 2025, would levy a DKK 50 fee on every departing passenger. Ryanair strongly opposes this tax, arguing that it will stifle the recovery of Danish air travel and tourism. The airline believes that the tax, which the government calls an ‘eco tax,’ will not promote sustainable aviation, but instead hinder economic growth, tourism, and job creation.
Denmark is currently experiencing a slower recovery in air travel compared to other European countries. While the country has reached 95% of its pre-COVID traffic levels, the proposed Aviation Tax could further hinder progress. Ryanair draws a parallel to Sweden, where the government abolished its Aviation Tax, recognizing that it did not contribute to sustainable aviation but instead negatively impacted economic growth, tourism, and employment. Following Sweden’s decision, Ryanair responded with significant investment, including two new aircraft, 10 new routes, and the creation of 60 new jobs for its Summer 2025 schedule.
Ryanair is urging the Danish government to reconsider its Aviation Tax plans and follow Sweden’s lead in fostering a competitive and thriving aviation sector. Removing the tax would encourage airlines like Ryanair to invest further, expand their route networks, and offer even more affordable fares. This, in turn, would help Denmark fully recover its pre-pandemic air traffic levels, as many other EU countries have already achieved.
Dara Brady, a spokesperson for Ryanair, expressed the airline’s concerns, stating, “Despite Ryanair’s significant post-Covid growth in Denmark (+35%), including 4 new Copenhagen routes (Barcelona, Bristol, Poznan & Sofia) for Winter 2024, Denmark is one of the few European countries (like Germany) that has failed to recover its pre-Covid traffic due to its high access costs and high airport charges. Despite this, the Govt is absurdly proposing to introduce a new Aviation Tax from Jan 2025, which would make Denmark even less competitive than other EU States, who are abolishing taxes and lowering airport costs to stimulate traffic growth. Ryanair is the only major airline growing traffic in Europe, and cost is the main factor we consider when deciding where to allocate our new aircraft and growth. Ryanair calls on the Danish Govt to follow Sweden’s example, scrap its plans to introduce an Aviation Tax, and instead promote policies to lower costs to incentivize growth and competition to high fare national flag carrier, SAS.”
The debate surrounding the proposed Aviation Tax in Denmark highlights the ongoing struggle to balance environmental concerns with economic growth and tourism promotion. Ryanair’s stance emphasizes the need for a cost-effective and competitive environment for airlines to thrive, ultimately benefiting travelers and the overall economy.