The airline attributes its decision to the increase in airport fees, new taxes and to what the company calls the "inaction" of the Portuguese government.

This measure would cut Ryanair's annual connections between the Azores archipelago and capitals such as London, Brussels, Lisbon, and Porto.

The cuts were announced by the airline on 20 November last year, citing the airport company that manages Portuguese airports (ANA) for increasing fees too much, making its routes to the islands unsustainable.

According to Ryanair's commercial director, Jason McGuiness, the airline has no alternative but to end services to the Azores and redeploy aircraft to lower-cost European airports, given the up to 35% fare increase.

This decision is part of Ryanair's 2026 fare reduction plan.

Additionally, the airline has already announced the suspension of winter flights to cities such as Vigo and Santiago de Compostela, just like in Germany, where routes to Berlin, Hamburg and Dortmund will be eliminated.

The company also aims to withdraw from several regional airports in France, such as Brive, Bergerac and Strasbourg, as it no longer considers them cost-effective.

As far as is known, the announced changes are not yet final, as negotiations continue until Ryanair's alleged withdrawal, scheduled for March 2026.