Ryanair plans to end its Charleroi-London service in response to the recent European Commission decision on airport subsidies.

The eight daily flights between Charleroi and Stansted end on April 29th. Last year Ryanair carried 360,000 passengers on the route. It said terminating the route was the "first element" of its response to the European Commission decision. A spokesman said the Dublin-Charleroi service would not be affected.

Ryanair claimed passengers were saving €3 million a year by using Charleroi rather than the more expensive Zaventem and said the decision would result in a 10 per cent reduction in daily flights at Charleroi.

Ryanair is to appeal the decision on incentive payments by airports to airlines such as Ryanair to the European Court in Luxembourg. "While this appeal is under way, there will be reductions in flights and services at Brussels Charleroi, as aircraft capacity is reallocated to other lower-cost airports," said a Ryanair statement.

Ryanair chief executive Mr Michael O'Leary said: "These capacity reductions are bad news for customers at Brussels Charleroi, but good news for other lower-cost airports. As the Brussels-London route had the lowest fares, this route cannot be sustained if costs are to be increased as a result of the Commission's decision to increase ticket prices by €6-€8 per ticket."

Mr O'Leary said that, while Charleroi would lose out until the EU Commission decision was reversed, London Stansted, Glasgow Prestwick, Stockholm Skavsta and London Luton might benefit from extra services.

"Ryanair will shortly be meeting with Brussels Charleroi Airport and the Walloon authorities to agree a way forward. If these talks result in a new agreement with a similar low-cost base as before then Ryanair's low fares will continue at Charleroi."

But he said if a new agreement was not reached, the consequences could be serious.

"If costs are increased, or the Walloon authorities do not share our vision for the lowest possible air fares for ordinary people, then there will be further flight reductions and route closures, as aircraft are sent to other airports where the cost base is already significantly lower than Ryanair's original costs at Charleroi Airport," he said.