Ryanair to close Berlin base, halve flights over high charges

Ryanair's passenger numbers at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (BER) are set to fall by around half in 2027, from 4.5 million to 2.2 million. The airline said the move is a direct consequence of the airport's plans to increase charges again between 2027 and 2029 by 10, Ryanair said, adding that fees have already risen by 50 since the coronavirus pandemic. The airport's operator rejected the claim and said it was surprised by the announcement, with both sides currently in negotiations. No such increase in airport charges is planned, a spokesman emphasized. Eddie Wilson, head of Ryanair in Germany, stated: German aviation is broken. There is no strategy to cut aviation taxes or high airport fees – despite Ryanair warning that Germany would lose traffic, connectivity, jobs and trade, Wilson argued. The airline said all 7 Berlin based aircraft will in this case be reallocated to lower cost airports in other EU states that have abolished aviation taxes like Sweden, Slovakia, Albania Italy. Flight crew have been informed of the decision to close the Berlin base and can secure alternative positions elsewhere in the Ryanair network across Europe,the low-cost carrier added.