Ryanair is set to cut flights from several UK airports, including Edinburgh after confirming the closure of a major base in Germany. The airline announced it will shut its seven-aircraft operating base at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) from October 24.
As part of the move, Ryanair said it will reduce its flight capacity to and from the German capital by 50% during its winter schedule, meaning services between Berlin and the Scottish capital are expected to be affected.
Ryanair currently runs direct flights from Edinburgh Airport to Berlin several times a week, with journeys taking around two hours.
Although the airline has yet to confirm which specific UK routes will be cut, it said its Berlin traffic will fall from 4.5 million passengers to 2.2 million in 2027, reports The Express.
Services between Berlin and London, Manchester and Birmingham are also at risk of being affected. The carrier added that more than two million Ryanair seats per year will be lost as a result of the closure.
Ryanair said it will continue to serve Berlin, but by using aircraft based outside Germany.
All seven Berlin-based aircraft will be moved to lower-cost airports in other EU countries, including Sweden, Slovakia, Albania and Italy.
The airline blamed rising airport charges and aviation taxes in Germany for the decision.
Ryanair DAC CEO Eddie Wilson said: “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.
“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.”
He added: “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.”
Mr Wilson also said further cuts in Germany were “now inevitable” without meaningful cost reform.
He continued: “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.”
Ryanair confirmed that Berlin-based pilots and cabin crew have been notified of the intended base closure.
Staff consultations will begin shortly, and the affected crew will be able to apply for alternative roles elsewhere in the airline’s European network.