Ryanair to leave Maastricht airport in October over airport cost hike

Ryanair will stop flying from Maastricht Aachen Airport (MAA) from October, the airline announced. All Ryanair flights to and from MAA are scrapped after 26 October 2025. The airline blamed an “excessive” increase in airport costs.

“These significant cost increases make Maastricht Airport one of the most expensive airports in Europe and completely uncompetitive compared to other countries and low-cost airports elsewhere in Europe,” CCO Jason McGuinness said.

According to Ryanair, its departure will result in five direct connections disappearing from MAA and 150,000 fewer passengers being transported each year. Instead, the Irish budget airline will focus on flying more to other European countries like Sweden, Italy, and Poland. According to McGuinness, these countries are “reducing airport costs and abolishing aviation taxes to stimulate traffic recovery and growth.”

MAA told NOS that it regrets Ryanair’s decision. “We have been in intensive discussions with Ryanair in recent months about the conditions under which we could continue the collaboration from the 2025/26 winter season. Unfortunately, we have not been able to reach an agreement.”

According to the spokesperson, the cost increase is necessary for the airport to be financially independent. Ryanair does not want to pay the rates that cover the airport’s costs, the spokesperson told the broadcaster.

Rising aviation taxes in the Netherlands also “obviously did not help bring the talks with Ryanair to a successful conclusion,” the MAA spokesperson said.

Ryanair also mentioned the Dutch aviation tax, which, according to the airline, increased by 275 percent since 2021.