Shift in airport utilisation from low-cost to premium carriers in major airports in the last decade

The picture across Europe's major hubs is net negative for low-cost carrier presence — and the numbers tell a clear story. EasyJet reduced its flights at Amsterdam Schiphol by 5.5% year-on-year in 2025 Simple Flying, while Ryanair cancelled planned routes into Paris Orly, with industry observers pointing to high airport charges as the primary driver Blue Marine Travel — consistent with its longstanding avoidance of CDG and LHR. Across Europe more broadly, Ryanair cut routes from Germany, Spain, Italy, and the Baltics, citing excessive airport charges and taxes as the core reason Visit Ukraine.

The paradox is striking. Europe's top twelve low-cost carriers carried 555 million passengers in 2024 — a 16.8% increase on 2019 figures Accio, yet that growth is being funnelled away from premium hubs toward secondary airports and regional markets where costs are manageable. The major hubs — LHR, CDG, AMS — are becoming increasingly the domain of full-service carriers, as slot constraints, rising charges, and new aviation taxes make them structurally incompatible with the low-cost model. The budget traveller is being quietly repriced out of Europe's gateway airports.