Ryanair threatens to cut UK flights unless Burnham scraps plans for 'double tax' on tourists

From the Newshound archive · first published 23 September 2026 · last updated 24 September 2026.

The Ryanair chief executive said tourists are already paying a "visitor tax" through APD — hiked from £13 to £15 for short-haul economy flights in April — and a hotel levy on top would amount to taxing them twice. Hospitality chiefs have previously warned the uncapped overnight levy could cost the UK tourism industry up to £1.6 billion. O'Leary called on Burnham to abolish APD, promising 30 new aircraft, 200 new routes and 10,000 new jobs if the government complied.

O'Leary said Sweden, Slovakia, Hungary, Albania and Italy have all scrapped access taxes and are now growing rapidly while the UK is not.

Ryanair is already 'actively switching capacity away' from countries raising taxes, O'Leary warned, saying he 'wouldn't hold his breath' on APD being scrapped.

Regional mayors are set to gain uncapped powers to impose overnight-stay levies, though government sources suggested most would keep the charge to a few percent.