Ryanair could stop Swedish operations due to suggested taxation

Low cost carrier Ryanair is considering a reduction in traffic to and from Swedish airports in as close as six weeks, according to Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). The reason for the suggested cut on existing routes is the pending decision on the new airport tax, proposed by the Swedish government. The much discussed law is currently pending approval by the EU, and an official initialization date is yet to be announced, should the law be approved by the EU.

Ryanair is initially threatening to withdraw it's routes from Malmö and Västerås in October due to the imposed taxation law, but according to Ryanair spokesman Sean Coyle, reductions could start as early as in six weeks. The reduced routes to Malmö could potentially benefit Kastrup, Copenhagen airport in Denmark, should Ryanair cut its routes to Malmö, Sturup.

There are also rumours of traffic reductions to and from Nyköping, Skavsta airport, but these are yet to be confirmed by local airport officials.