Ryanair said it plans to close its seven-aircraft base in Berlin Brandenburg Airport in October 2026, sharply reducing its presence in Germany’s capital as the airline clashes with rising airport charges and aviation taxes.
The Irish low-cost carrier said all seven aircraft currently based in Berlin will be removed from Oct. 24, 2026, and reassigned to lower-cost markets elsewhere in Europe.
Ryanair said its Berlin traffic will fall by roughly 50%, from 4.5 million passengers to 2.2 million in 2027, while more than 2 million annual seats will be removed from the market.
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The airline blamed Berlin airport’s decision to raise fees by another 10% between 2027 and 2029, following what it said was a 50% increase in airport charges since 2019.
Ryanair also criticized Germany’s aviation cost structure, citing higher passenger taxes, air traffic control charges and security fees.
According to the airline, Germany’s aviation tax has risen from €7.30 to €15.50 per passenger since 2019, while security charges are expected to double again by 2028.
German pullback
Despite closing its local base, Ryanair said it will continue serving Berlin using aircraft based elsewhere in Europe.
The carrier said pilots and cabin crew based in Berlin were informed of the planned closure and consultations with employees will begin shortly. It added that affected staff will be offered positions elsewhere in its network.
The move adds to a wider pullback by Ryanair in Germany in recent years. The airline has already shut bases in Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Stuttgart and ended flights to Dresden, Leipzig and Dortmund.
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April 24, 2026
Ryanair has frequently used public pressure campaigns against airports and governments over taxes and fees, often threatening capacity cuts to secure lower operating costs. While the airline has reduced its footprint in Germany in recent years, Berlin Airport has also struggled to recover traffic since the pandemic, remaining below its 2019 passenger levels.
