Ryanair to close Berlin base and cut 700,000 German seats

Ryanair is cutting its German capacity by 10% for the 2026–2027 winter season, removing 700,000 seats primarily across Berlin and Hamburg. On 24 October, the carrier will shut its operational base at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (BER) while maintaining incoming flights.

The German capital loses 50% of its Ryanair seat capacity. Seven based Boeing 737 airframes are being relocated to Italy, Morocco, Albania, Slovakia, and Sweden. This base closure leads to the termination of twelve routes from Berlin, including services to Marseille, Bologna, Palermo, Pisa, and Gran Canaria. The airline cites elevated airport charges, security, ATC fees, and national aviation taxes as the drivers for this reallocation.

Elsewhere in Germany, Hamburg faces a 5% capacity trim. Conversely, Cologne and Memmingen see service expansions of 10% and 12%, while initial winter operations begin at Friedrichshafen and Saarbrucken.

This capacity redeployment aligns with wider network adjustments across Europe. Ryanair previously confirmed seat contractions in Belgium, Greek regional hubs, regional Spain, and completed its total departure from the Azores, where flights ceased on 28 March 2026.