FLASH
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The low-cost airline will significantly reduce operations in Berlin due to increased airport fees...
More flights are being cancelled in Europe as Ryanair cuts thousands of flights at a popular airport. The company confirmed it will reduce its flight schedule to and from Berlin by 50 percent.
This means that seven aircraft parked at the airport will be moved to other airports in Europe this winter. In terms of flights affected, Ryanair's passenger numbers will fall from 4.5 million to 2.2 million by next year.
This will also affect flights from the United Kingdom, including routes from London, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh.
Ryanair has blamed this decision on the increase in airport fees in Berlin, which have increased by 50 percent since the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as another planned 10 percent increase.
Ryanair DAC chief executive Eddie Wilson said: “We regret to announce the planned closure of our seven-aircraft base in Berlin from 24 October 2026, but we have no alternative following the recent 10 per cent increase in airport charges, which are already high. This follows a 50 per cent increase in Berlin charges since 2019.”
He added that the company has already been forced to close bases in other German cities, including Frankfurt, Düsseldorf and Stuttgart.
“Efficient operations and competitive airport charges are the foundation that enables Ryanair to deliver long-term traffic growth and better connections for airports and regions.
"This is impossible in Berlin, following the German government's failure to abolish the harmful aviation tax and Berlin Airport's decision to raise its already high fees again," he said, adding, "without meaningful cost reforms in Berlin or at the national level in Germany, we have no alternative but to shift aircraft from Germany to more competitive markets in Europe."
Other regions where the company plans to add flights include Italy, Albania, Slovakia and Sweden.
Ryanair has already canceled a wave of flights across Europe, citing high airport charges. These include:
10 percent of flights to and from Dublin
All flights to and from the Azores (affecting 400,000 passengers)
All flights to Asturias, Vigo, Tenerife North, Jerez and Valladolid in Spain (affecting 1.2 million passengers)
Reduction of flights to Zaragoza, Santiago de Compostela, Santander and Girona in Spain
Other airlines have also cancelled flights in recent weeks due to the ongoing fuel crisis, caused by the war in Iran.
Shortages created by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have led to sharp price increases and fears of further shortages.
Lufthansa has confirmed that it will cancel 200,000 flights over the summer, until October.
United Airlines said it will cancel five percent of flights, which translates to about 250 flights per month.
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), KLM, Cathay Pacific and Air New Zealand have also been forced to reduce their flight schedules.
Some companies are also completely cutting certain routes, including Norse Airways on the London Gatwick–Los Angeles route and British Airways on the London Heathrow–Jeddah route.
According to British media reports, airlines in the United Kingdom have reacted to the fuel crisis and its impact on travel.
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