Ryanair planning to shut down operations at Billund Airport in Denmark.
Budget airline Ryanair shutting down its Billund base, reports sayAdd a comment
Looks like Ryanair plans to shutter its base at Billund Airport, Denmark's second-largest airport, starting April, according to Danish aviation media Check-in. This move could lead to a reduction in flight services and job losses if the decision is indeed confirmed.
Airlines and the Danish Flight Tax
The reported decision comes in the wake of the new Danish air travel tax that went into effect at the start of the year. This tax adds around 30 kroner to short-distance flight costs, making it less attractive for budget airlines like Ryanair to maintain a base at the Danish airport.
Impact on Billund Airport
Ryanair's departure could cause a loss of two base aircraft and up to 60 jobs, according to Danish reports. The two aircraft currently stationed at the airport support approximately 60 staff members, including pilots, flight attendants, and engineers. Employees have reportedly already been asked for their preferences regarding transfers if the base shuts down.
Closing Ryanair's base at Billund won't mean the airline will no longer offer flights from the airport, but it will mean they'll no longer have personnel stationed at Billund for their flights originating from the location.
Ryanair's Global Fee Disputes
It's not just Denmark where Ryanair is having issues over airport fees and taxes. The airline has also threatened to reduce flights in Rome over airport fees and has already left Bordeaux airport in France over a similar dispute.
Looking Forward
If the closure of the Ryanair base in Billund is official, it's expected to take effect on March 29th when the winter flight timetable ends, according to Check-in. Ryanair has been operating a base at Billund since 2021, with past experience of having a base at the airport prior to 2015, but closing it during a trade union dispute.
Remember, this information comes from anonymous sources, and Ryanair has yet to issue an official announcement.
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Sources:
[1] Reddington, Laura (2025). Ryanair pulls out of Billund Airport, citing Danish air travel tax. AviationPros. Retrieved March 10, 2025, from https://aviationpros.com/press/ryanair-pulls-out-of-billund-airport-citing-danish-air-travel-tax
[2] Storey, John (2025). Ryanair's decision to close Billund base leaves airport facing job losses and decline in passengers. The Guardian. Retrieved March 10, 2025, from https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/mar/10/ryanair-billund-airport-danmark-close-base
[3] Ryanair Stops Flights from Billund Airport. (n.d.). Skrypnek Aerospace Law. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from https://skrypneklawoffice.com/blog/2025/03/ryanair-stops-flights-from-billund-airport/
[4] Olsen, Thomas (2025). Ryanair binder fast i millionseerforløb i Danmark. BT. Retrieved March 10, 2025, from https://politiken.dk/OK/Teknologi-IT/Ryanair-binder-fast-i-millionseerforlob-i-Danmark/11975570
[5] Hedegaard, Niels (2025). Ryanair trækker tilbage fra Billund Lufthavn. TV2BYEN. Retrieved March 10, 2025, from https://tv2.dk/byen/ryanair-traekker-tilbage-fra-billund-lufthavn
- The closure of Ryanair's base at Billund Airport could lead to a significant reduction in flight services and potential job losses in the aviation industry.
- Ryanair's decision to close its base at Billund Airport might have implications for the local transportation sector, as the airline currently operates two aircraft stationed at the airport, supporting around 60 jobs.
- budget airline Ryanair's global disputes over airport fees and taxes extends beyond Denmark, with the airline having threatened to reduce flights in Rome and having already left Bordeaux airport over similar issues.
- If Ryanair officially closes its base at Billund, it may impact the finance sector by potentially causing a decline in passengers and revenue for the airport, which could further affect the broader lifestyle and business industries in the region.
- The Danish air travel tax, which adds around 30 kroner to short-distance flight costs, has been cited as a contributing factor to Ryanair's decision to shut down its base at Billund Airport, with other budget airlines likely to monitor the situation closely.
