Ryanair to close Berlin base, halve flights over high charges

Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair is closing its base at Berlin's international airport, withdrawing its seven passenger jets stationed in the German capital and halving its flight schedule over alleged plans to raise charges.

The Berlin base will be closed on October 24 this year, the airline announced on Friday. Flights to the city will continue, but with aircraft based outside Germany.

Ryanair's passenger numbers at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (BER) are set to fall by around half in 2027, from 4.5 million to 2.2 million. 

The airline said the move is a direct consequence of the airport's plans to increase charges again between 2027 and 2029 by 10%, Ryanair said, adding that fees have already risen by 50% since the coronavirus pandemic.

The airport's operator rejected the claim and said it was surprised by the announcement, with both sides currently in negotiations. "No such increase in airport charges is planned," a spokesman emphasized.

Eddie Wilson, head of Ryanair in Germany, stated: "German aviation is broken."

"There is no strategy to cut aviation taxes or high airport fees – despite Ryanair warning that Germany would lose traffic, connectivity, jobs and trade," Wilson argued.

The airline said "all 7 Berlin based aircraft will in this case be reallocated to lower cost airports in other EU states that have abolished aviation taxes like Sweden, Slovakia, Albania & Italy."

Flight crew have been informed of the decision to close the Berlin base and "can secure alternative positions elsewhere in the Ryanair network across Europe," the low-cost carrier added.