Ryanair to Close Berlin Base with 7 Aircraft from October 2026 – 50% Flight Reduction
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In a devastating blow to Germany’s capital region, Ryanair has announced the planned closure of its Berlin base effective October 24, 2026. All seven aircraft stationed at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) will be relocated to lower-cost EU airports, while flight volumes to and from Berlin will be slashed by 50% for the winter schedule.
Ryanair – vor 2 Jahren mit neuen Flugzielen ab Berlin (BER)
Ryanair to Close Berlin Base with 7 Aircraft from October 2026 – 50% Flight Reduction
Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson cited the BER’s recent announcement of a further 10% fee increase between 2027 and 2029 as the final straw. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Berlin airport charges have already skyrocketed by 50% – while passenger traffic has crumbled from 36 million (2019) to just 26 million (2025), a drop of nearly 30%.
“We regret having to announce the planned closure of our Berlin base with 7 aircraft,” Wilson said. “This will result in the loss of more than 2 million Ryanair seats per year and 7 based aircraft.”
Germany’s Aviation Policy Under Fire
Ryanair is not just blaming the airport but also the German federal government for what it calls a “catastrophically uncompetitive” aviation market. Key cost explosions since 2019:
Air Travel Tax: More than doubled from €7.30 to €15.50 per passenger
Security Fees: Doubling from €10 (2024) to €20 by January 2028
Air Navigation Service Fees: Tripled from €1 to €3.30 per passenger
Airport Charges (BER): +50% since 2019, another +10% planned through 2029
Wilson added: “German aviation is not competitive. The government admits this itself, but there is still no clear strategy to reduce air travel taxes and excessive airport fees – despite repeated warnings from Ryanair.”
The seven Berlin-based Boeing 737s will be redeployed to more cost-effective airports in EU countries that have abolished air travel taxes, including:
Sweden
Slovakia
Albania
Italy
These countries, Ryanair argues, are actively competing for limited growth capacity by lowering access costs – a race to the bottom that Germany refuses to join.
Jobs Impact – But Crews Offered Alternatives
All Ryanair pilots and cabin crew stationed in Berlin have received notification of the intended base closure. Employee consultations will begin shortly. However, all flight crew members are being offered alternative positions within Ryanair’s growing European network – a silver lining as Ryanair expands from 149 million passengers (2019) to 216 million (2026).
Berlin Won’t Disappear Completely – But Almost
Ryanair will not abandon Berlin entirely. However, the city will only be served by aircraft stationed outside Germany. The airline’s Berlin passenger volume will crash from 4.5 million to just 2.2 million per year – a 50% collapse.
Part of a Broader German Retreat
The Berlin decision is not an isolated incident. Since 2019, Ryanair has already:
Closed bases in Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, and Stuttgart (loss of 13 based aircraft)
Canceled all flights to Dresden, Leipzig, and Dortmund
“Further cuts in Germany are now foreseeable,” Wilson warned.
Bottom Line: Berlin Becomes Europe’s Worst-Performing Airport
With a nearly 30% traffic decline since 2019, BER is already Europe’s worst-performing major airport. Ryanair’s withdrawal will dramatically worsen this position. While other European capitals fight for every passenger with lower fees and tax relief, Berlin is doubling down on higher charges – a losing strategy, according to Europe’s biggest airline.
