Ryanair's O'Leary calls von der Leyen "useless" as it cuts 20 Belgian routes

What's the deal? RyanairDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → chief executive Michael O'Leary called European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen "useless" in an interview with Euronews, saying she is "afraid to do anything except talk" and accusing the European Parliament of being a "ship of fools" that keeps "redesigning regulations designed to increase the cost of air travel."

Why now? O'Leary spoke in Brussels as Ryanair announced it is cutting a million seats and 20 routes from Belgium this winter, after Belgium raised its air-travel tax by €2 to €7 per ticket, effective 2027. "Belgium is not competitive. France is not competitive. Germany is hopelessly uncompetitive," he said, adding that Ryanair is moving aircraft to more competitive countries instead.

What's the context? O'Leary pointed to the Draghi report on EU competitiveness, published in September 2024, saying "two years later, not one of its recommendations has been implemented." A report last month by the Joint European Disruptive Initiative found the EU had implemented 26% of the Draghi recommendations, calling progress "real" but "not in sync with the pace of the world."

What's the ask? O'Leary also wants the EU to tax US and Chinese airlines landing in Europe, arguing they are exempt from the bloc's aviation carbon rules despite producing over half of Europe's long-haul aviation emissions. The European Commission has proposed extending carbon-market coverage to some additional flights from 2029, while longer routes would remain excluded.

The signal: It's Europe's competitiveness frustration said out loud by its largest low-cost carrier — tying network decisions directly to national taxes and EU regulation, and piling pressure on Brussels as it weighs its own aviation climate rules.

Read more: Euronews