Ryanair is throwing in the towel on Berlin. Europe’s largest airline has announced the closure of its base at the German airport starting from October 24, 2026, resulting in a 50% reduction in flights operated to and from the German capital for the winter schedule. The seven aircraft based in Berlin will be transferred to lower-cost airports in other European countries, including Sweden, Slovakia, Albania, and Italy.
The numbers of a predicted failure
The decision is a direct consequence of yet another fee increase announced by Berlin Airport: a further 10% between 2027 and 2029, adding to an overall 50% increase already recorded since the pre-Covid period. The paradox is evident: despite rising costs, the airport’s passenger traffic has plummeted by 27%, dropping from 36 million in 2019 to 26 million in 2025.
But the price hikes do not stop at the airport. Since 2019, the German aviation tax has more than doubled, rising from €7.30 to €15.50 per passenger. Security fees are set to double, from €10 to €20 per passenger by 2028. Air traffic control charges have tripled, from €1 to €3.30. This accumulation of costs, according to Ryanair, makes Germany structurally uncompetitive compared to the rest of Europe.
Wilson pulls no punches: “German aviation is broken”
The CEO of Ryanair DAC, Eddie Wilson, did not mince words when commenting on the decision. “We regret having to announce the closure of our 7-aircraft base in Berlin, but we have no alternative,” he stated. “Despite Berlin Airport losing 30% of its pre-Covid traffic due to its excessive costs and the German aviation tax system, they have decided to further increase fees by 10%. The result will be the loss of over 2 million Ryanair seats per year.”
The final diagnosis is scathing: “German aviation is broken. The government admits it is not competitive, yet there is no strategy to reduce aviation taxes or high airport fees.”
A progressive retreat from Germany
Berlin is not the first base Ryanair has abandoned in Germany. Since 2019, the company has already been forced to close its bases in Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, and Stuttgart, with the loss of another 13 based aircraft, and has stopped all flights to Dresden, Leipzig, and Dortmund. Ryanair’s traffic in Berlin is set to be halved, falling from 4.5 million to 2.2 million passengers in 2027.
The contrast with the rest of Europe is striking: during the same period, Ryanair grew its total traffic from 149 to 216 million passengers per year—an increase of nearly 70 million. Germany remains the negative exception in a continent where most airports are cutting fees to attract traffic.
Workers and passengers pay the price
The closure of the Berlin base translates into concrete consequences for personnel: pilots and flight attendants based in Berlin have already received official notification. Ryanair ensures they will be able to find positions at other hubs in the European network where the company is accelerating growth. However, for German workers, a period of uncertainty is beginning.
For passengers, the message is equally clear: fewer flights, less competition, and potentially higher prices. Berlin Airport, instead of reversing course by reducing costs to attract carriers, has chosen the opposite path. And now, it is reaping the results.
Photo Ryanair