Ryanair said today it was dropping three French airports, including in the eastern city of Strasbourg, over French authorities' decision to maintain an extra tax on air tickets.
"This astronomical tax makes France less competitive compared to other EU countries such as Ireland, Spain and Poland, which do not impose any air taxes," the airline said in a statement.
Ryanair said it was dropping airports in Brive and Bergerac in southwestern France as well as Strasbourg. It had already dropped Vatry airport in the north east of the county earlier this year.
Ryanair urged the French government to abolish the "harmful" air tax in order to make French aviation more competitive.
France's Solidarity Tax on Airline Tickets rose to €7.40 per passenger for domestic and European flights from €2.63.
Ryanair said its decision will mean the loss of 25 routes and 750,000 seats in France this winter.
