Ryanair closes Berlin base and cuts 700,000 seats in Germany

Ryanair announced on 8 October 2026 a significant contraction of its German flight schedule for the 2026/2027 winter season, removing approximately 700,000 seats from the domestic market. The airline attributes this capacity reduction to high state-induced location costs, highlighting national aviation taxes as well as elevated fees for air traffic control, aviation security, and airport infrastructure.

The core operational adjustment involves the definitive shutdown of the Berlin-Brandenburg (BER) base on 24 October 2026. The station's based Boeing 737 fleet will be completely reassigned to more competitive European bases, cutting the carrier's flight volume at the capital airport in half. Multiple direct services from Berlin will cease, including flights to Bologna, Marseille, Palermo, Tallinn, and Vilnius. Airport officials noted that rival operators will maintain or take over half of the routes vacated by the low-cost carrier.

Network adjustments across Germany reflect a shift away from major high-cost hubs toward regional platforms. Hamburg faces flight reductions, while secondary stations like Memmingen and Cologne/Bonn gain capacity. Regular winter schedules will also commence at Friedrichshafen and Saarbrücken. However, operations at Bremen will conclude in summer 2027 following unresolved fee negotiations, with the carrier likewise staying away from Leipzig/Halle and Dresden.