Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair has announced it will close its base at Berlin Brandenburg Airport. Beginning October 24, 2026, the airline will remove seven aircraft based in the German capital and significantly reduce its flight schedule.
High Fees Cited as the Main Reason
Ryanair said the cost of operating flights in Berlin has increased by around 50% since the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline also pointed to plans by Berlin Brandenburg Airport to raise charges by another 10% between 2027 and 2029.
After the base closes, the seven aircraft will be reassigned to other European markets. According to the carrier, the planes will be deployed in Sweden, Slovakia, Albania, and Italy, where aviation taxes and airport fees are lower.
Flights to Berlin Will Continue
Ryanair is not completely withdrawing from the German capital. The airline will continue operating selected routes, although some services will be discontinued and frequencies on several routes will be reduced.
The carrier estimates that its annual passenger traffic in Berlin will drop by nearly half following the cuts, falling from the current 4.5 million passengers to approximately 2.2 million per year.
Further Network Reductions Across Europe
The closure of the Berlin base is the latest step in Ryanair’s ongoing review of its European network. During 2024 and 2025, the airline also reduced operations or closed bases in Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Estonia, Poland, and the Netherlands.
Ryanair says these decisions are driven by rising operating costs and high aviation taxes and airport charges. Authorities in several European countries, however, have argued that such announcements are often intended to pressure airports and governments into offering more favorable operating conditions.