“Exorbitant” air traffic tax: Ryanair cuts offer in Germany

Connections are being discontinued, prices are rising: Ryanair is reducing its flight program. In one region in particular, passengers will have significantly less choice in the future - which, according to the airline, also has the "most unsuccessful airport in Europe".

Europe's largest low-cost airline Ryanair is cutting its services in Germany. The Irish company announces that it will offer around 700,000 fewer seats in the coming winter flight schedule than a year ago. That is a decrease of ten percent compared to winter 2025/26. The reasons are the high access costs via government fees and the “exorbitant” air traffic tax in Germany.

As already announced, the main burden of the cuts will be borne by Berlin-Brandenburg Airport, which Ryanair described as the “most unsuccessful airport in Europe”. The airline will close its base there with seven aircraft and associated crews on October 24th. The jets would be relocated to more competitive airports in other EU countries, where air traffic taxes have been abolished and fees have been reduced.

The German capital will continue to be served by Ryanair, but will reportedly lose around half of the previous offer. Twelve routes, including those to Gran Canaria, Palermo and Thessaloniki, would be discontinued completely and others would be thinned out. “Berlin is by far the biggest loser,” says airline boss Eddie Wilson. Passengers there would have significantly less choice and would have to pay higher flight prices.

There are also cuts of around five percent in Hamburg, while capacity is being expanded in Memmingen and Cologne. New to Ryanair's winter flight schedule are Saarbrücken and Friedrichshafen.