Ryanair to Close Berlin Base, Halve Flights Amid Rising German Aviation Costs
Ryanair announces closure of Berlin-Brandenburg base and 50% flight reduction citing high airport fees and aviation taxes in Germany.
Ryanair, the Irish low-cost airline, has announced it will close its base at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport by October 24, 2026, withdrawing all seven aircraft and reducing flight operations to the German capital by half. This move will cut annual passenger traffic from 4.5 million to approximately 2.2 million, according to the company's press release dated April 24, 2026.
Strategic Shift in Response to Rising Operating Costs
The airline attributed the decision to Germany becoming prohibitively expensive for low-cost carriers. Ryanair plans to redeploy its Berlin fleet to airports in countries with lower operational costs and abolished aviation taxes, including Sweden, Slovakia, Albania, and Italy. This shift follows Berlin-Brandenburg Airport's announcement of a further 10% increase in fees between 2027 and 2029.
"Airport fees in Berlin have surged by 50% since the Covid pandemic, despite a 30% drop in passenger traffic from 36 million in 2019 to 26 million in 2025," Ryanair stated.
The airline sharply criticized German aviation policy for relying heavily on elevated aviation taxes and airport charges, which it claims have undermined the sector’s competitiveness. Since 2019, the aviation tax per passenger has more than doubled from €7.30 to €15.50. Security fees are also set to double from €10 in 2024 to €20 by 2028, while air traffic management charges have increased from €1 to €3.30 per passenger.
Berlin-Brandenburg Airport officials have disputed Ryanair’s depiction of fee hikes, labeling the carrier’s decision unexpected and confirming ongoing negotiations with Ryanair representatives.
Implications for Ryanair Staff and Broader Market
Ryanair plans to begin staff consultations imminently. The airline assured that all flight crew members will have opportunities to relocate to other positions across its European network as it accelerates growth in other markets.
Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson described the German aviation market as "in crisis," pointing to government acknowledgment of its non-competitiveness but lamenting the absence of strategies to reduce taxes and fees. He recalled prior base closures in Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, and Stuttgart, and the cancellation of flights to Dresden, Leipzig, and Dortmund since 2019.
This decision signals a significant strategic retreat by Ryanair from Germany’s largest city, highlighting the challenges faced by low-cost carriers operating under heavy regulatory and fiscal pressures in key European markets. The move also underscores the critical influence of government policy and airport fee structures on airline network planning and competitiveness.
