Dutch aviation tax dispute

Airlines including Ryanair, Corendon, and Transavia have voiced strong opposition to the Dutch government’s plan to increase flight taxes starting in January. The Jetten cabinet proposed raising the tax to 49 euros for medium-haul flights and up to 72 euros for long-haul flights. Industry representatives criticized the measures, with Ryanair labeling the increase a ‘fake eco-tax’ and warning it would halt growth in the Dutch market. Other airlines argued the policy makes the Netherlands uncompetitive, noting that travelers may shift to neighboring airports in Germany and Belgium.

In response to competitive concerns, leaked budget documents indicate the government intends to lower the proposed long-haul tax for flights over 5,500 kilometers to 59 euros per passenger starting January 1, 2027, down from a previously planned 70.86 euros. While this adjustment aims to align Dutch long-haul rates more closely with Germany, the Board of Airline Representatives in the Netherlands (BARIN) has dismissed the move as a ‘half-hearted solution’. BARIN maintains that significant tax disparities for short and medium-haul flights persist, continuing to create an uneven playing field for Dutch airports.