Ryanair has unveiled its extensive London Summer 2025 schedule, featuring 206 routes including seven new destinations from Stansted Airport.
The expansion adds flights to Bodrum, Clermont-Ferrand, Dalaman, Münster, Lübeck, Linz, and Reggio Calabria.
Additionally, the airline will increase frequencies on 30 existing London routes to popular destinations. This will include Gdansk, Ibiza, Malaga, Milan, Rome, Turin, and Valencia, offering travelers more flexibility and options for their summer travel plans.
London Summer 2025 Expansion
To support this significant growth, Ryanair will station an additional Boeing 737 aircraft at London Stansted, representing a $100 million investment.
This brings the carrier’s total London-based fleet to 56 aircraft, marking a substantial total investment of $5.6 billion. The expansion will create 30 new high-paying positions for pilots, cabin crew, and engineers, contributing to local employment and economic growth in the London area.
Concerns Over APD Rises
However, the airline expresses serious concern over the UK’s regional aviation outlook under the current Labour government. Despite claims of promoting economic growth, the administration has announced a £2 increase in Air Passenger Duty (APD) on short-haul flights starting in 2026.
Ryanair argues this tax increase makes the UK less competitive compared to European nations like Sweden, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. These EU nations are either eliminating aviation taxes or reducing airport fees to encourage growth in their aviation sectors.
The impact of this tax increase extends beyond the aviation industry itself. According to Ryanair, the higher APD will particularly affect ordinary UK families planning holidays abroad. It may also discourage potential international visitors from choosing the UK as their destination.
This could lead to a significant shift in tourist flows toward countries with more favorable aviation tax policies, potentially impacting the UK’s tourism industry and broader economy.
CEO Michael O’Leary Comments
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary expressed mixed feelings about the developments. “While we’re excited to announce these new routes and increased frequencies from London, we could expand even more rapidly throughout the UK.”
“However, Rachel Reeves’s decision to raise APD taxes undermines growth potential, particularly at regional airports. This short-sighted policy will have long-lasting effects on the UK’s aviation sector and regional economies.”
O’Leary particularly criticizes the government’s focus on long-term infrastructure projects like a third runway at Heathrow or a second at Gatwick, stating these won’t materialize for 10-20 years.
Instead, he advocates for immediate APD abolition as a more effective measure to stimulate investment, tourism, and economic growth across all UK regions.
“The Labour government’s tax increase fundamentally contradicts its stated growth agenda,” O’Leary adds. “While they’ve supported train drivers and junior doctors, this APD hike will harm economic activity and growth throughout the country.”
“Removing APD would deliver immediate and tangible benefits to air travel, tourism, and regional economies throughout the UK.”
Summary
The airline’s expansion in London, despite these challenges, demonstrates Ryanair’s continued commitment to the UK market.
However, the carrier suggests that even greater growth and economic benefits could be realized if the government were to reconsider its aviation tax policy.
This situation highlights the ongoing tension between environmental taxation and economic growth objectives in the aviation sector, as well as the complex balance governments must strike between these competing priorities.
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