Published on
October 19, 2025
Ryanair has made the bold decision to cut over eight hundred thousand seats from its Winter 2025 schedule in Germany, citing the country’s unsustainable operational costs as the driving force behind this move. The airline is reacting to Germany’s high aviation taxes, which have increased by 24% since May 2024, coupled with rising air traffic control charges, security fees, and escalating airport costs. These factors, combined with a lack of reform from the German government, have made the country less competitive compared to other European nations like Ireland, Spain, Poland, Sweden, and Italy, where tax cuts and more favorable conditions have encouraged airline growth and economic recovery. As a result, Ryanair’s decision reflects its growing frustration with the German market and a call for urgent reform to make Germany more competitive in the European aviation landscape.
Ryanair Slashes German Winter 2025 Capacity, Citing High Costs as the Key Factor
Ryanair, Europe’s largest budget carrier, has announced a significant reduction in its capacity for Winter 2025, with over 800,000 seats cut from its flights to and from Germany. The low-cost airline has also cancelled 24 routes across nine high-cost airports in Germany, including major hubs such as Berlin, Hamburg, and Memmingen. Additionally, airports in Dortmund, Dresden, and Leipzig will remain closed for the season. This reduction means that Ryanair’s overall capacity in Germany will be lower than the levels it operated at during Winter 2024.
The primary reason behind this decision is the soaring costs associated with operating in Germany, particularly the high airport access fees, which have become a growing concern for Ryanair. The airline has been vocal about its frustration with the German government’s failure to address these issues, which have made the country increasingly uncompetitive compared to other European markets.
Rising Access Costs in Germany
The airline has placed much of the blame on the German government’s recent decision to increase aviation taxes by 24% in May 2024. Ryanair argues that the rise in taxes, combined with escalating air traffic control (ATC) charges, rising security fees, and higher overall airport costs, has led to an unsustainable operating environment. The airline claims that these high access costs are deterring growth and making Germany a less attractive market for airlines compared to other European countries.
Countries such as Ireland, Spain, and Poland, which do not impose aviation taxes, or regions like Sweden, Hungary, and parts of Italy, where aviation taxes are being reduced, are seen as more favorable destinations for airlines. Ryanair has pointed out that these countries’ lower operational costs are helping boost their competitiveness in the aviation sector, attracting more airlines and tourists, and aiding economic recovery in the post-pandemic world.
Germany’s Struggles in Air Traffic Recovery
Germany’s high access costs have directly impacted its air traffic recovery, which remains one of the weakest in Europe. According to the German Airports Association (ADV), Germany’s air traffic was operating at just 86.3% of pre-pandemic levels in September 2025. This is a clear indication that Germany is struggling to recover fully, even as other European markets see stronger rebounds in air travel.
The high costs, compounded by the government’s reluctance to address these issues, have made Germany less competitive compared to other European destinations, leading to the reduced capacity and route cancellations by Ryanair.
Ryanair’s Call for Action
In a statement, Ryanair once again called on the German government, including Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder, to take urgent action and reduce the excessive access costs that are harming the country’s aviation sector. Ryanair argues that without immediate intervention, Germany will continue to fall behind other European nations that are fostering a more competitive aviation environment.
The airline has also warned that if Germany does not reverse the recent aviation tax increase and reduce its rising costs, Ryanair could take further steps to scale back its operations in the country. Ryanair has expressed that it would be willing to invest significantly in Germany, adding up to 30 more aircraft and increasing passenger numbers to 34 million per year. This would create over 1,000 new jobs in Germany and represent a substantial financial investment. However, this can only happen if Germany reduces its operational costs, the airline claims.
Impact on German Tourism and Business Travel
The reduction in Ryanair’s capacity will inevitably have repercussions for both tourism and business travel in Germany. Ryanair is one of the most popular low-cost carriers in Europe, providing affordable flights to key tourist and business destinations across Germany. The cancellation of these routes will likely lead to a reduction in the number of travelers visiting the country, especially as the airline is a popular choice for budget-conscious tourists.
Business travelers will also feel the impact of the route cancellations, as many rely on affordable and flexible flight options to travel to major business hubs in Germany. The decrease in flights could make it more difficult for both tourists and business professionals to access these important markets, potentially hindering Germany’s economic recovery.
Ryanair’s Strategy of Threatening to Scale Back
This is not the first time Ryanair has used its influence to push for policy changes in the countries it operates. The airline has previously issued similar warnings to several European governments, including those of Austria, Belgium, France, Estonia, and Latvia. In each case, Ryanair threatened to reduce its presence in these markets if their governments did not address rising operating costs. However, these threats have largely been ignored, with little to no action taken by the governments involved.
Ryanair’s tactic of scaling back operations in markets with high costs is a strategy the airline has employed in the past to force governments to lower taxes and fees, or risk losing economic activity and jobs. However, whether this approach will yield results in Germany remains to be seen.
Ryanair has cut over eight hundred thousand seats in Winter 2025 for Germany, citing high aviation taxes, rising costs, and uncompetitive conditions. The airline is urging urgent reforms, highlighting more favorable conditions in countries like Ireland, Spain, Poland, Sweden, and Italy.
Ryanair’s decision to reduce its capacity in Germany for Winter 2025 underscores the growing challenges airlines face when operating in high-cost environments. The airline’s call for the German government to address the country’s excessive aviation taxes and rising operational costs is a warning sign for the country’s aviation sector and its broader economy. With Germany’s air traffic recovery lagging behind other European markets, it is clear that urgent reforms are needed to make the country more competitive and attract vital investment in the aviation and tourism industries. Until then, travelers to and from Germany may face fewer options and higher costs, while the country’s aviation market risks falling further behind its European counterparts.
