Ryanair cancels 5,000 flights in Portugal this summer

Ryanair has been forced to reduce its Lisbon-based aircraft from 7 to 4, resulting in the cancellation of 5,000 flights and 19 routes in the Portuguese capital for this summer due to TAP’s continued blocking of landing slots, the airline said Wednesday.

These cancellations follow multiple attempts by Ryanair to ask the Portuguese government to intervene to free up these unused slots from TAP this summer.

→ Ryanair announces a record schedule in Madrid of 59 routes this summer.

“While Ryanair brings growth and investment in Portugal, TAP has absorbed 3 billion euros in state aid, cut its fleet by 20%, cut thousands of jobs, but released less than 5% of its slots in Lisbon, thus blocking the growth of other airlines. Preventing competitors like Ryanair from using these unused slots has a negative impact on Lisbon’s economy, with 5,000 flights cancelled (over 950,000 fewer seats), 3 fewer based aircraft (a $300 million investment), the loss of 150 high-paying jobs in the aviation sector and over 250 million euros in lost tourism revenue for Lisbon this summer,” the airline said.

Ryanair said these 3 aircraft and 19 routes will return to Lisbon in October for winter scheduling, as the airline already has enough winter slots in the Portuguese capital for these flights.

THE 19 ROUTES CANCELLED IN LISBON FOR THIS SUMMER: