Brussels Briefing

Flying into a storm at Belgian airports

Ryanair’s expansion to main airports is causing a stir in Belgium, where it christened the runway at Charleroi, 50 minutes outside the capital, as Brussels South. Now it is launching flights from the airport just 10 minutes from the city, called Zaventem.

The Belgian media put Michael O’Leary through his paces, asking where his staff will pay their tax and social welfare. Since last February this has been more closely regulated, with staff paying income tax in Ireland, as they have Irish contracts, but paying social insurance in Belgium where they are based.