Ryanair's Exit Affects Services at Billund Airport
What's Cookin'?
Uncertainty looms over Ryanair flights from Billund Airport in Denmark due to the airline's base closure.
Ryanair's decision to shut down a two-airplane base at Billund Airport could leave a sour taste for travelers and locals alike. The details of the impact on services at the airport are yet to be fully understood.
Digging Deeper
Ryanair announced in January that it will close its base at Billund Airport and withdraw from Aalborg Airport, causing a loss of two aircraft, 32 routes, and 1.7 million plane seats for flights to and from Danish airports 1. The airline pinned the blame on the Danish government's plan to implement an air travel tax in 2025, estimating the tax to be around 30 kroner per ticket 2.
Ryanair has so far been tight-lipped on the specifics of its future services from Billund. "We've seen Ryanair reduce its capacity in Billund over the years due to increased costs, and it seems that trend is set to continue in 2025," says Jan Hessellund, CEO of Billund Airport 3. There haven't been any new tickets on sale with the airport past March 3, but Hessellund is optimistic that the airport will attract new airlines to replenish the capacity and add new destinations 3.
Billund Airport is still figuring out the potential implications for passengers who have already booked flights with Ryanair for the summer program 3. The loss of Ryanair's operations could lead to a drop of up to 30% in passenger numbers, as reported by Danish aviation media Check-in 4.
The Big Picture
Ryanair's feud over airport fees and taxes isn't confined to Denmark; the airline has also threatened to cut flights in Rome over airport fees and has already left Bordeaux Airport in France over a similar dispute 5. The consequences of Ryanair's exit are expected to hit Billund Airport's profits, with an evaluation of the airport's expectations for 2025 being re-estimated in the coming weeks 3.
Tidbits
- Passenger Decline: A 31.4% decrease in passenger numbers was observed in April 2025, resulting in a sharp drop in passenger traffic compared to the previous year 4.
- Impact on Employment: Job losses at the airport occurred as a result of Ryanair's departure, and the airport has reportedly canceled or scaled back planned summer hiring 1.
- Long-term Effects and Recovery: Attraction of new carriers and routes are vital for the 2026 season and beyond, but the airport acknowledges that short-term recovery may take time 2.
- Broader Context: Ryanair's exit is chiefly due to the Danish government's upcoming passenger tax and a lack of a new agreement between Ryanair and the airport 1.
Dig in
For more on the consequences of Ryanair's decision, check out The Impact of Ryanair's Exit on Billund Airport and our series on Travel News. Don't hesitate to join the conversation or reach out to us at [email protected] with questions or suggestions for our journalists.
- The travel industry is affected as Ryanair's withdrawal from Billund Airport leads to a decrease in available routes and seats for flights to and from Danish airports.
- Allegedly, Ryanair's decision to exit Billund Airport is due to the Danish government's plan to implement a new air travel tax in 2025.
- The news of Ryanair's departure from Billund Airport could have significant implications for the finance sector, as the airport's future profits might be impacted.
- The aviation industry is undergoing change concurrently, with Ryanair also threatening to cut flights in Rome over airport fees and having already left Bordeaux Airport in France due to similar disputes.
- The loss of Ryanair's operations at Billund could lead to a drop in passenger numbers, potentially resulting in a 31.4% decrease in April 2025.
- The exit of Ryanair from the airport may result in job losses and canceled or scaled back planned summer hiring.
- Aviation, finance, and transportation sectors are closely watching the turn of events at Billund Airport, as the recovery and attraction of new carriers for the 2026 season and beyond are critical.
