Ryanair has confirmed it will close its seven-aircraft operating base at Berlin Brandenburg Airport from October 2026, cutting capacity by 50% and affecting flights to and from UK cities including London, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh
Emma O’Neill Content Editor and Kris Boratyn
19:19, 03 May 2026Updated 19:26, 03 May 2026
Ryanair will shut its seven-aircraft operating base at Berlin Brandenburg Airport(Image: Getty)
Ryanair is poised to reduce flights from several UK airports following confirmation that it will close a significant base in Germany.
The budget carrier has announced the closure of its seven-aircraft operating base at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) from 24th October 2026. Alongside this decision, Ryanair revealed it will slash its flight capacity to and from the German capital by 50% during the winter schedule.
Consequently, services linking Berlin with UK cities such as London, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh are anticipated to face disruption. The airline presently operates direct flights from these airports to Berlin multiple times weekly, with journeys lasting approximately two hours.
While Ryanair has yet to specify which particular UK routes will be axed, it stated that passenger numbers for Berlin will plummet from 4.5 million to 2.2 million in 2027.
More than two million Ryanair seats per year will be lost as a result of the closure(Image: Getty)
The carrier added that over two million Ryanair seats annually will disappear as a consequence of the base closure. Ryanair confirmed it will maintain Berlin services, albeit using aircraft stationed outside Germany, reports the Express.
The seven Berlin-based aircraft will be relocated to more cost-effective airports across other EU nations, including Sweden, Slovakia, Albania and Italy. The airline attributed the decision to escalating airport charges and aviation taxes in Germany.
Ryanair DAC CEO Eddie Wilson stated: “We regret to announce this planned closure of our seven aircraft Berlin base from 24 Oct 2026, but we have no alternative following the Airport’s latest 10% fee increase to its already high airport fees.
The airline blamed rising airport charges and aviation taxes in Germany for the decision(Image: Getty)
“This comes on top of the 50% increase in Berlin’s airport fees since 2019. Despite Berlin Airport losing 30% of its pre-Covid traffic thanks to its excessive airport charges, and Germany’s stupid aviation tax regime, they have now decided to increase charges by a further 10%, which will result in the loss of more than 2m Ryanair seats p.a. and seven based aircraft.
“Ryanair will still serve Berlin but on a/c based outside Germany and our Berlin traffic will fall by 50% from 4.5m to 2.2m pax in 2027.”
Mr Wilson went on to say: “German aviation is broken. The Govt. admits that it is uncompetitive, yet there is no strategy to cut aviation taxes or high airport fees – despite Ryanair warning that Germany would lose traffic, connectivity, jobs and trade.”
He also warned that additional reductions across Germany were “now inevitable” unless substantial cost reforms are implemented.
Ryanair is set to cut flights from some UK airports(Image: Getty)
He stated: “Efficient operations and competitive airport fees are the foundation which enable Ryanair to deliver long-term traffic growth and increased connectivity for airports and regions.
“This is impossible at Berlin following the German Govt’s failure to abolish its harmful aviation tax and Berlin Airport’s decision to again increase its already high airport fees.”
The airline has confirmed that pilots and cabin crew stationed in Berlin have been informed about the proposed base closure.
Consultations with staff will commence in the near future, with affected employees given the opportunity to seek alternative positions within Ryanair’s wider European operation.