Kildare holidaymakers warned as Ryanair cancels flights to and from popular sun destination

Holidaymakers in Ireland, including those from Kildare, have been warned to check their travel plans as Ryanair announced it has cancelled all flights to a popular holiday destination in Portugal amid soaring airport fees and rising charges, making the routes "unviable".

All flights to and from the Portuguese Azores have been cancelled since March 29, 2026, and will affect around 400,000 passenger seats annually.

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The low-cost airline pointed to a 120% hike in air traffic control fees since the pandemic and a €2 passenger tax as key reasons for its decision.

Ryanair says aircraft previously used on these routes will be deployed to more profitable destinations across Europe.

In a statement, the company's CCO Jason McGuinness said,

"We are disappointed that the French airport monopoly ANA continues to raise Portuguese airport fees to line its pockets, at the expense of Portuguese tourism and jobs - particularly on the Portuguese islands.

"As a direct result of these rising costs, we have been left with no alternative other than to cancel all Azores flights from 29 March 2026 onwards and relocate this capacity to lower cost airports elsewhere in the extensive Ryanair Group network across Europe.

"After 10 years of year-round Ryanair operations, one of Europe's most remote regions will now lose direct low-fare flights to London, Brussels, Lisbon, and Porto due to ANA's high airport fees and Portuguese Government inaction."

The announcement has drawn criticism from Portuguese authorities, who argue that the Azores' airport fees remain among the lowest in Europe.

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Local tourism operators are now worried about the potential impact on visitor numbers, particularly as the summer season approaches.

For holidaymakers planning a trip to European's Atlantic islands, this latest development is a reminder to book early and check your flight options carefully.