AXE

RYANAIR has announced that it will be scrapping all its flights to another European destination.

From March 29, 2026, Ryanair will be axing all its flights to and from the Azores.

The airline has said that the cancellations are as a result of high airport fees.

This means the six routes that currently travel to the Azores, which works out to around 400,000 passengers each year, will be scrapped.

The airline also said that ATC charges have risen by 120 per cent since the Covid-19 pandemic and there has also been the introduction of a €2 (£1.76) travel tax.

Ryanair’s CCO Jason McGuinness said: “We are disappointed that the French airport monopoly ANA continues to raise Portuguese airport fees to line its pockets, at the expense of Portuguese tourism and jobs – particularly on the Portuguese islands.

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“As a direct result of these rising costs, we have been left with no alternative other than to cancel all Azores flights from 29 March 2026 onwards and relocate this capacity to lower cost airports elsewhere in the extensive Ryanair Group network across Europe.

“After 10 years of year-round Ryanair operations, one of Europe’s most remote regions will now lose direct low-fare flights to London, Brussels, Lisbon, and Porto due to ANA’s high airport fees and Portuguese Govt. inaction.”

The Azores are around 950 miles from Portugal itself and the islands offer a great short-haul holiday destination.

The nine volcanic islands are known for having unspoiled beauty, which includes vibrant green hills and black sandy beaches.

According to Azores Getaways, “just like Hawaii, the Azores offer visitors captivating coastlines dotted by sun-dappled beaches and stunning shores.

“But one major thing that visitors won’t find in this Portuguese paradise are throngs of tourists, crammed together and rivaling one another for a small patch of sand”.

Many of the islands have natural hot springs and thermal pools, which attract a lot of visitors.

The Azores are also ideal for people who love the outdoors, as you can go hiking in the forests, explore volcanic landscapes, swim in natural pools and even do a bit of whale and dolphin watching.

There are even a number of historic towns across the islands including Ponta Delgada, which has a number of buildings made from black and white volcanic stone.

One Sun reporter who visited the Azores said: “With its black beaches, hot springs and isolated spot in the Atlantic, the nine volcanic islands of the Azores make you feel as though you’ve stepped on to a movie set.

“We’d arrived on a speedy two-hour flight from Lisbon to the largest island in the archipelago, and gateway to the Azores, Sao Miguel, and every turn in our rental car looked picture-perfect.

“First we embarked on a kayak tour of the pea-green Furnas Lake, and snuck a peek at the 17th century mansions nestled on the quiet banks.

“Then, a quick drive up to the Pico do Ferro viewpoint rendered us speechless as we gazed down at the bubbling geysers below and the spectacular crater lake we had just navigated below.”

They added: “Many people are lured to the Azores for whale watching and the abundant marine life around the islands.

“With everything you could need to feast your eyes and your belly, it’s clear to see why it is often dubbed the Hawaii of Europe.

“Thankfully, it doesn’t come with a long-haul flight and pricey plane ticket.”

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In other aviation news, a UK airport is getting new long-haul flights to one of the world’s best cities – the first in nearly 20 years.

Plus, the often-forgotten-about European country that’s getting new British Airways flights.

RYANAIR is set to scrap even more flights across Europe next year.

It comes just months after they confirmed that two million seats would be scrapped across Spain.

Earlier this year, the budget airline said they would be cancelling all flights to three French airports –  Bergerac, Brive, and Strasbourg.

However, more are set to be axed, they have confirmed, affecting passengers in summer 2026.

Chief Commercial Officer Jason McGuinness told local media: “We will be leaving several regional airports in France this summer. 

“When you increase taxes by 180 per cent, it makes these airports unviable for us.”

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The new taxes will see an extra €4.77 per flight ticket when it comes to short haul flights.

However, long haul flights will increase by €120 (£105). 

Which airports in France will be affected is yet to be confirmed.

Back in August, Ryanair said confirmed that two million seats across Spain would be being scrapped.

This affects all flights to and from Tenerife North, Vigo, Santiago Valladolid and Jerez.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary said at the time: “If the costs in regional Spain are too high, I will fly elsewhere.

“We are better off flying at the same cost to places such as Palma [on the island of Mallorca] than flying to Jerez.”

The airport worst affected is Vigo, as the cancellations mean there are no longer any direct UK flights.

Another 1.2million seats are set to be cancelled across Spain next summer.

Lots of airports across Germany are also seeing a reduction in flights.

Memmingen Airport is losing 27 flights a week this winter, while Berlin will lose 76 in January alone.

Cologne is losing 44 in January as well.

Ryanair’s CEO Eddie Wilson said back in August: “Germany’s air travel market is broken and needs an urgent fix.

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“As a result of these high Govt taxes/fees (the highest in Europe), and Lufthansa’s high-fare monopoly, German citizens/visitors now pay the highest air fares in Europe.”

Dortmund, Dresden, and Leipzig airports are to stay closed over winter.

Channel 4 is reportedly gearing up to axe The Inheritance, which was fronted by Liz Hurley and Rob Rinder and saw 13 players attempt to win money from a will, after just one series

Elizabeth Hurley‘s reality show could be about to be axed after just one series. The Hollywood star, 60, teamed up with Good Morning Britain presenter Rob Rinder to front the game show, which aired on Channel 4 earlier this year.

The Bedazzled actress played the The Deceased, with Rob working as The Executor, and 13 contestants battled it out in a series of challenges to unlock money from the will as they try to convince each other that only they should be trusted with the money pot. Whilst no official decision has bene made on the programme’s future, insiders have claimed that it is not expected to come back for a second run of episodes.

A source told The Sun: “The Inheritance has been widely viewed as a flop, despite all the publicity and having a big star at its heart.

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“Channel 4 maintains no decision has been made on its future, but many people involved in the debut series are working on the basis that it isn’t returning. Of course there may be some huge changes of mind and the show enjoys a stay of execution, but all the signs are that this is another expensive flop and they’re likely to quit while they’re behind.”

The Mirror has contacted Channel 4 representatives for comment.

The first episode of The Inheritance pulled in just half a million viewers, although this grew once catch up figures were taken into account. However, over the course of two weeks, overall, the programme averaged just 1.5 million. In the end, it was 28-year-old Yorkshire scaffolder Cam who emerged victorious, winning the vote amongst his fellow finalists to be the ultimate Prime Beneficiary, receiving a whopping £100,000 fortune from The Deceased’s estate.

Cam then had the option of keeping the prize money to himself, which would add to the already huge £10,000 he had accumulated throughout the game. However, in a nail biting final decision, he chose to share his winnings with Emma, Hafsah, Hannah and Jesse, who each took home £20,000 each, along with what they had already banked throughout.

In total, Cam walked away with £30,000 with the rest of the finalists trailing closely behind. Hannah and Jesse received £28,200 each Hafsah taking home £27,700 and paramedic Emma walking away with a modest £23,800.

During the tense moment, host Rob Rinder was seen standing with the finalists during the tense moment, as he revealed that Cam had chosen to split the money with all four players. “You arrived at the final at the final stages of this game together, and you now leave with an equal slice of the inheritance,” Rob announced, as the contestants broke down in tears.

“You arrived at the final at the final stages of this game together, and you now leave with an equal slice of the inheritance,” Rob announced, as the contestants broke down in tears.

“The inheritance is now concluded, please collect your money from the safe boxes and leave the estate immediately,” he concluded.

While the players were left shocked at Cam’s generous decision, it was a no brainer for him, as he announced: “I’ve had debt hanging over my head for years, I can’t describe the feeling of a fresh start.

“My dad taught me integrity and in that strong room it is literally a battle between your head and your heart. To be able to change the lives of four other people too, I am so happy and proud.” Of course, he’s only human, and he did have second thoughts when the money was right in front of his eyes.

“We all spoke about it in the final division ceremony, dividing all the money up, and I think it’s easy to say you would,” he said. “However, when you get down into that room, and you’ve got a hundred thousand pounds in front of your face, you start thinking about everything back at home and how much it could change your life.

“It really is a tough decision but at the end of the day I’m a team player, and I’m just so happy that I did make the decision I made.”

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