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Ryanair to Close Berlin Base in October 2026, Cutting Flights by Half

The reversal signals Ryanair will shift growth to countries that scrap aviation taxes.

Overview

  • Ryanair will shut its seven-aircraft base at Berlin Brandenburg Airport on October 24, 2026 and move the jets to lower-cost airports in Sweden, Slovakia, Albania and Italy.
  • The carrier will reduce its Berlin schedule by about 50%, projecting traffic to drop from 4.5 million to roughly 2.2 million in 2027, which removes more than 2 million seats a year.
  • Ryanair says higher airport charges at BER and a larger German aviation tax drove the decision, citing a 50% fee rise since 2019 plus a further 10% increase set for 2027 to 2029.
  • Berlin Airport’s chief executive said the move was unexpected and disputed that some of the fee increases Ryanair cited are planned.
  • About 200 Berlin-based pilots and cabin crew have been notified and offered transfers, and UK links to Berlin from London, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh are expected to see fewer flights.