Ryanair will withdraw seven aircraft and move operations from Berlin Brandenburg to cheaper EU airports. The move will halve Berlin flights from October 24, 2026.

Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair announced the complete closure of its base at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) and a 50% reduction in flight volumes starting October 24, 2026.

According to the German publication Tagesspiegel, the decision was driven by high tax burden and BER’s plans to raise charges. The report noted that seven aircraft that had been based at BER would be withdrawn and redirected to cheaper EU airports, including in Sweden, Slovakia, Albania, or Italy.

As Ryanair’s chief executive Eddie Wilson said, the changes are driven by high government taxes and BER’s plans to raise charges again. He called the airport a “failed billion-euro project” and accused the German federal government of lacking a strategy for the aviation sector. Along with moving the aircraft, the number of flights to and from Berlin in the winter schedule will be reduced by 50%.

“a failed billion-euro project”

– Eddie Wilson

BER’s reaction and market implications

BER’s management expressed surprise at this step, noting that the scale of charge increases claimed by Ryanair is not planned.

According to the data, since 2019 the federal air transport tax has more than doubled: from €7.30 to €15.50 per passenger. Safety charges are also expected to double – from €10 to €20 by January 2028. Airport charges paid have also risen, especially in Berlin, by about 50% compared with pre-pandemic times. The Ryanair report noted that by 2029 they are expected to rise by another roughly 10%.

In December 2025, the Italian antitrust authority ruled against Ryanair, imposing a €255 million fine for abusing its dominant position in relations with travel agents.

Ultimately, the withdrawal of the base from BER could mean significant changes for the region’s low-cost market and for passenger routes via the capital’s airport – for both Ryanair and the carriers and agencies associated with it. Along with these changes, the rise in charges within the government’s and regulators’ policy again raises the issue of market accessibility and travel costs.

The final decision will take effect on October 24, 2026, after which Ryanair will cut volumes to and from BER by about half, which will have a significant impact on the airport’s operations and passenger traffic.