Ryanair warns hundreds of flights from the UK could be scrapped next summer
RYANAIR has threatened to scrap hundreds of UK flights next summer.
Michael O'Leary, CEO of the budget airline, has revealed a rise in aviation taxes would cause some flights to no longer be viable.
He said: "If they raise APD (Air Passenger Duty) again on domestic flights then there will be a cut in capacity, no question.
"These routes are not particularly profitable, they barely break even."
It comes as Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to increase a number of taxes in her Autumn Budget.
She is yet to reveal which taxes will be impacted, but has warned of "difficult" decisions.
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The Chancellor needs the cash to halt cuts, cover an annual £22billion overspend and for a financial buffer.
Treasury officials are now looking at ways to close the mammoth shortfall with tax rises being a central part.
Ryanair has already cut its capacity in Germany in reaction to higher taxes.
Mr O'Leary added: "We’ve put a lot of additional capacity into Glasgow, Edinburgh and Belfast.”
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It comes as a third of UK businesses are understood to be working on "exit plans" ahead of the Budget, a survey of executives has found.
Labour has repeatedly promised not to increase the main rates of income tax, national insurance and VAT and has limited any rises in corporation tax to no higher than 25%.
As a result, ministers are looking for other ways to raise the cash necessary to plug the "black hole".