La Rochelle Airport Set to Reach 300,000 Passengers Despite Ryanair Route Suspension
La Rochelle, France – La Rochelle – Île de Ré Airport is poised to achieve a record-breaking year in passenger numbers, anticipating it may surpass 300,000 travelers annually, even with the seasonal suspension of Ryanair’s route to Porto this winter. Despite the temporary service cut, airport officials remain optimistic, citing strong demand and overall traffic trends.
The discontinuation of the Porto link, effective this winter, is a outcome of France’s comparatively high aviation taxes, a point of contention for industry stakeholders. Thomas juin highlighted the disadvantage, stating, “This is a situation we are enduring. French taxation is completely out of step with what is practiced in Europe. La Rochelle is an illustration of this, despite critically importent demand. When a connection is closed, economic benefits for the territory are necessarily reduced.” The airport will continue to offer the Porto connection during peak seasons – spring 2026 and summer 2026.
The anticipated record comes amid broader concerns about potential disruptions to air travel. While the main French air traffic controllers’ union initially planned a strike for September 18th, it has been postponed to early october. The outcome of any future industrial action could impact the airport’s final annual figures.
The airport’s success reflects a growing trend in regional air travel, but the impact of the newly adopted tax increases on airline tickets within the 2025 government budget remains a key concern for the future sustainability of routes like the Porto connection.
