Ryanair axes Dublin-Rodez route but London connection retained
“We are disappointed but had no say in decision” say airport authorities
The route was one of three offered by the low-cost carrier to the Aveyron airport
Markus Mainka / Shutterstock
Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair has dropped its Dublin-Rodez route for 2026, airport authorities have confirmed.
Two flights per week were initially scheduled between June and August before Ryanair decided to close the route.
First launched in 2008, the service was cancelled during the Covid-19 pandemic before returning in 2022, running only during the summer season.
Airport officials are hopeful of the route returning in 2027, but this is yet to be confirmed.
The connection is one of several closures touted by the airline for the summer 2026 season in France, a move it claims is due to increased French airline taxes.
“We are obviously disappointed because it was a route that worked quite well. But unfortunately, we had no say in this decision,” said Aveyron department president Arnaud Viala following the announcement.
The closure “is linked to what Ryanair calls a repulsive policy decided by France regarding a number of taxes. And so, depending on their workload, they decide...to close destinations,” he added.
The department subsidises the airport alongside the French state, and the route’s removal has dented hopes of the regional airport reaching 200,000 annual passengers in the coming years.
“Rodez/Dublin, over a full year, represented approximately 6,000 passengers. So we want to try to compensate for this loss with other destinations and another operator. We want to bounce back,” Mr Viala said.
London among remaining destinations
Despite cutting the Dublin route, Ryanair will maintain services to London Stansted and Brussels from the Aveyron airport.
A twice-weekly service will run on Wednesdays and Sundays to Stansted, from June 3 to August 30.
Low-cost competitor Volotea also operates from Rodez airport, with services to Portugal in addition to six weekly flights to Paris.
Despite Ryanair closing some summer routes many that are popular with Connexion readers have remained, including many UK-Béziers connections and the return of a Brive-London service.
