Ryanair officially axes all flights to and from ‘European Hawaii’ in blow to 400,000 passengers
RYANAIR has scrapped all flights to a popular destination often compared to Hawaii.
The low-cost airline has axed its direct service as a result of soaring airport fees.
From today – March 29, 2026 – all services to and from the Azores – which are famous for their stunning beaches and vibrant greenery – have been stopped.
The move means six different routes have been scrapped, impacting approximately 400,000 passengers who visit the islands annually.
The airline previously pointed to a 120 per cent rise in air traffic control charges and the introduction of a new travel tax as the breaking points.
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.”
As costs continue to climb, the airline stated it had no choice but to move its planes to cheaper airports elsewhere in Europe.
McGuinness added: “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.”
The region – located about 950 miles from mainland Portugal – has lost direct low-fare links to London, Brussels, Lisbon and Porto.
The nine volcanic islands are known for having unspoiled beauty, which includes vibrant green hills and black sandy beaches.
British Airways still flies to the islands seasonally, with direct flights from London Heathrow to Ponta Delgada and Terceira.
