en.Wedoany.com Reported - Irish airline Ryanair has announced that it will close its base in Germany's Berlin on October 24, 2026, citing "high aviation taxes and excessive airport costs" in the German capital. Ryanair will relocate all seven Boeing 737 aircraft stationed in Berlin to other European countries with lower airport fees, such as Sweden, Slovakia, Albania, and Italy.

Ryanair DAC CEO Eddie Wilson stated: "Germany's aviation industry is broken. The government acknowledges its lack of competitiveness but has no strategy to reduce aviation taxes or high airport fees." The airline noted that airport charges in Berlin have increased by 50% since the COVID-19 pandemic, while passenger traffic fell from 36 million in 2019 to 26 million in 2025. Berlin airport also plans to raise fees by another 10% between 2027 and 2029.

Ryanair has informed all pilots and cabin crew stationed in Berlin and will initiate employee consultations to offer them positions at other bases. German service workers' union ver.di criticized the decision, calling it part of Ryanair's "ruthless, purely profit-driven corporate strategy" and noted that approximately 500 employees would be affected. Dennis Dack, ver.di's head of air transport, said: "The planned closure once again shows that Ryanair prioritizes profit maximization, with no room for social responsibility."

Ryanair pointed out that Germany's air passenger tax (€15.50 per passenger) and rising costs for security and air traffic control have worsened the operating environment. Since 2019, Ryanair has closed bases in Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, and Stuttgart, and stopped flights to Dresden, Leipzig, and Dortmund. Wilson stated: "Without substantial cost reform in Berlin or across Germany, we have no choice but to move aircraft from Germany to other more competitive markets."

Analysts believe that while Germany is not the most expensive aviation market in Europe, the combination of multiple costs makes it unattractive for low-cost carriers. EasyJet has reduced operations at Berlin Brandenburg Airport, and Wizz Air maintains only limited operations. German travelers may face more expensive travel options.

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