Ryanair unveiled its highly anticipated Summer 2025 schedule at East Midlands Airport with 33 routes and, despite all challenges, increased frequency on 12 popular holiday travel options, including Alicante, Faro and Malaga.
Ryanair Summer 2025: APD Tax Hike Threatens East Midlands Regional Growth
The added capacity is designed to provide more choice and competitive fares for British consumers and to strengthen regional connectivity.
Backed by a $600 million investment, Ryanair’s new schedule features six East Midlands-based aircraft, reinforcing its commitment to UK air travel and tourism. However, the airline warns that the future of UK aviation expansion is at risk due to the government’s planned increase in Air Passenger Duty (APD) taxes.
Despite Ryanair’s ongoing investment in the UK’s aviation sector, the airline has sharply criticised the Labour government’s plan to increase Air Passenger Duty (APD) on short-haul flights by £2 per passenger starting in 2026. Ryanair warns that this tax hike will make the UK less competitive, driving tourists to European destinations. Such as, Sweden, Hungary and Italy—countries that are actively cutting or scrapping aviation taxes to boost their tourism industries.
Ryanair’s Head of Communications, Jade Kirwan, expressed concerns over the impact of the tax hike, stating:
“Ryanair is pleased to announce our Summer 2025 schedule for East Midlands, with 33 exciting routes to choose from, including must-visit city break destinations, like Barcelona, Berlin, Budapest, Dublin, Milan, and Rome, as well as top holiday hotspots, like Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Malta, Menorca, Rhodes and Tenerife, and all at the lowest fares in Europe. If that wasn’t enough, we’ve also added extra frequencies on several of our most popular routes for Summer 2025, like Alicante, Faro, and Malaga.”
“While this is great news for UK passengers looking to get away to soak up some sun this Summer, Ryanair could be growing more rapidly to/from the UK, but Rachel Reeves’ bizarre decision to raise APD taxes by £2 per passenger damages these growth prospects, and in particular regional UK airports.”
UK Aviation Growth: Ryanair Calls for APD Tax Abolition
Ryanair continues to urge the UK government and in particular Chancellor Rachel Reeves, to abandon the planned APD tax increase. The carrier argues that reducing aviation taxes would stimulate passenger growth boost regional economies and make the UK more competitive in the global travel market.
Ryanair is still making low-cost travel options possible in spite of the challenges posed with government tax policies. Customers are encouraged to book early to take advantage of Europe’s lowest fares.
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