Irish budget airliner Ryanair (FR/RYR) has announced plans to close its seven-aircraft base at Berlin Brandenburg Airport from 24 October 2026, citing rising airport charges and continued cost pressures in the German market.
The low-cost carrier said the decision follows a further 10% increase in airport fees at Berlin, which come on top of a reported 50% rise in charges since 2019. The airline described the cost environment as unsustainable, leaving it with “no alternative” but to shut the base.
As part of the move, all seven Berlin-based aircraft will be redeployed to lower-cost airports elsewhere in Europe, including markets such as Sweden, Slovakia, Albania and Italy.
The closure will result in a significant reduction in Ryanair’s operations in the German capital. The airline plans to cut its winter schedule to and from Berlin by approximately 50%, with annual passenger traffic expected to fall from around 4.5 million to 2.2 million.
Ryanair has been highly critical of Germany’s aviation policy, pointing to a combination of high airport charges and aviation taxes as key factors behind the decision. The airline argues that these costs are undermining competitiveness and limiting growth in the country’s aviation sector.
Despite the base closure, Ryanair confirmed that flights to and from Berlin will continue, but will instead be operated by aircraft based at other European airports.
The airline also stated that affected pilots and cabin crew will be offered opportunities to transfer to other bases within its network, as it reallocates capacity to regions with lower operating costs.
This latest move continues a broader trend of capacity reductions by Ryanair in Germany, where it has previously closed bases and cut routes in response to what it describes as persistently high costs and unfavourable regulatory conditions.