Ryanair Is Pulling Its Planes Out of Berlin, Blaming German Fees

Ryanair is closing its base at Berlin Brandenburg Airport, and the effects begin on October 24, 2026. The shutdown removes 12 routes from the capital’s airport and cuts the airline’s winter capacity there by 50 percent, a steep reduction for one of Europe’s biggest low-cost carriers in one of its biggest cities.

The airline’s stated reason is cost. Ryanair points to high German aviation charges as the problem and says it will move the seven aircraft currently based in Berlin to lower-cost airports instead. That means the capacity is not disappearing from the airline’s network, just from Germany’s capital.

Passengers holding bookings on the affected routes should check their reservations and the airline’s notifications, since the closure takes effect within days. Where flights are cancelled, travelers are generally entitled to rebooking or a refund, though the rules differ by situation, and compensation depends on the circumstances and how much notice was given.

The move is part of a wider pattern. Ryanair has also announced that it will end its UK flights to Bremen from April 2027, removing around 500,000 seats, and the cuts are described as part of broader reductions to its German network. For travelers, the practical result is fewer cheap point-to-point options and more connecting journeys.

Sources: AirHelp