Auvergne’s Portuguese Community to Lose Direct Porto Flights as Fares Soar

Ireland-based low-cost carrier Ryanair has decided to abandon Clermont-Ferrand Airport from 27 March 2026, a step that will sever the only nonstop air bridge between France’s Auvergne region and Porto, driving up travel time and expenses for roughly 15 000 Portuguese migrants in central France.

Why This Matters

• End of direct flights: After 27 March 2026, travellers must route through Paris or Lyon, adding at least 3–4 hours door-to-door.

• Higher tickets likely: One-stop itineraries on legacy airlines can cost €70–€120 more than Ryanair’s promotional fares.

• Diaspora impact: Clermont-Ferrand hosts one of France’s most settled Portuguese enclaves; the cut complicates family visits, property management and SME trade missions.

• Policy signal: France’s rising “solidarity tax” on aviation, now €7.40 per economy passenger, could foreshadow similar climate-linked levies elsewhere in Europe.

The Tax Squeeze Behind the Exit

French lawmakers lifted the so-called solidarity surcharge on air tickets in the 2025 budget, more than doubling what carriers pay per passenger. Ryanair argues the levy wipes out its average margin of about €6 on short-haul seats. Company commercial chief Jason McGuinness warned that France risks “losing capacity to more competitive markets.” Airport fees and higher air-traffic-control charges added to the pressure, prompting Ryanair to scrap not just Porto but also London-Stansted and Fez from Clermont-Ferrand.

Shockwaves Through Auvergne’s Portuguese Community

The Clermont-Ferrand–Porto rotation had a 98 % load factor, essentially full on every departure, thanks to construction workers, retirees, Erasmus students and micro-exporters shuttling between the two regions. Isidore Fartaria, Portugal’s honorary consul on site, called the cancellation “hard to digest,” noting that even his own import business will now face longer supply chains. Grassroots group Luso France gathered more than 4 000 signatures in a week demanding emergency talks with Vinci Airports and local mayors.

Alternative Routes (None as Convenient)

Air France via Paris-Orly or CDG: 1-hour hop to the capital, 2 h 40 onward to Lisbon or Porto; typical return fare €220-€300 in spring.

Drive or train to Lyon-Saint-Exupéry (180 km): TAP, Transavia, easyJet and Vueling all offer nonstop links to Lisbon or Porto; add fuel, tolls or TGV costs.

Seasonal coaches: Intercity bus operators already field extra Porto-bound services during summer but journey time exceeds 15 hours.Clermont-Ferrand Airport says it is courting TAP Express and easyJet for a replacement, yet industry analysts doubt any carrier will assume the route while the French tax remains in place.

What This Means for Residents in Portugal

• Fewer inbound visitors: Expect relatives from Auvergne to arrive via Lyon or Paris, possibly choosing longer stays to amortise cost—good news for holiday-rental owners but bad for spontaneous weekend reunions.

• Cargo and care packages: SMEs and families often checked spare parts or specialty foods into hold luggage. Those items will now travel via hubs, making same-day turnarounds unrealistic.

• Ticket-price ripple effect: If climate surcharges spread, low-cost seats between Portugal and secondary French cities such as Nantes or Bordeaux could also shrink; monitor fare trends and book early.

• Policy takeaway: Lisbon lawmakers weighing their own green taxes can study the French case—too sharp a hike may push carriers to consolidate at larger airports, starving regional links.

Industry Perspective: A Canary in the Carbon Mine?

Aviation specialist Michel Polacco believes Ryanair is “sending a political message” as much as saving euros, noting that the airline continues to fly from other French outposts where local subsidies offset taxes. Union delegate Arnaud Boucheix calls the fiscal argument “window dressing,” adding that Ryanair negotiates hard wherever it lands. What is clear is that 40 % of Clermont-Ferrand’s passenger traffic disappears overnight, threatening ground-handling jobs and the viability of the airport itself. For Portugal, the episode underlines how climate-driven policies abroad can materially disrupt the diaspora’s connective tissue.

Bottom line: If you rely on friends, family, or freight from Auvergne, start revising travel calendars and budgets now—because the inexpensive 2-hour hop to Porto is about to become a pricier, multi-leg journey.