TUI is weighing a reduction in the number of aircraft based in Belgium after the government’s planned rise in the passenger departure tax from €5 to €7 takes effect on 1 January 2027. Chief executive Sebastian Ebel has described the Belgian tax environment as unfavourable, while the group’s Belgian operations face pressure from weaker demand and wider operational disruption.
The possible cut comes as Belgium’s aviation tax debate intensifies across the market. Ryanair has already trimmed capacity in the country, and TUI’s warning raises the prospect of further pressure on Belgian seat supply, employment and package-holiday availability. Belgian reports place TUI’s local base at around 20 aircraft and about 2,100 employees.
The tax increase alone may not determine TUI’s next move. The rise is only €2 per passenger, and one industry analysis argued that the extra cost would be modest on an individual flight, suggesting it is likely one factor among several shaping network and base decisions. Reuters also reported that TUI has reduced airline risk capacity by 5% amid softer demand and external disruptions, underscoring broader commercial strains beyond Belgium.