Ryanair closing down Billund base amid tax controversy
Ryanair plane about to land at Danish airport.
Credit: Shutterstock, Peter Gudella
Ryanair grounds its Billund operations, sparking job fears and airport angst.
Low-cost airline Ryanair is set to slam the brakes on its Billund Airport (BLL) base come April 2025, citing Denmark’s new air travel tax and skyrocketing airport costs as the reasons for this drastic decision.
The fallout? Up to 60 jobs could be left stranded, including pilots, flight attendants, and engineers. While Ryanair plans to keep flying from Billund, the closure of the base means no more Ryanair crew will be stationed at the airport, leaving the local community grounded in worry.
This move mirrors Ryanair’s turbulent relations with other European hubs, with recent clashes over airport fees in Rome and Bordeaux adding fuel to the fire. Although Ryanair has yet to officially confirm the shutdown, whispers from Danish aviation insiders and anonymous sources point to the newly imposed tax – a hefty addition of around 30 DKK (around €3) per short-haul ticket – as the primary trigger.
This isn’t Ryanair’s first detour from Billund either. The airline previously pulled out in 2015 following a spat with unions, marking the second time Billund has been left high and dry by the budget carrier.
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