Ryanair to Cut Flights to Berlin Due to ‘Sky-High Costs’
Ryanair to Cut Flights to Berlin Due to ‘Sky-High Costs’
Ryanair announced a significant reduction in its operations at Berlin-Brandenburg airport, blaming high access costs and German government policy. Starting next summer, the Irish airline will cut traffic by 20% at the airport.
Reasons Behind the Decision
Ryanair cited several factors for its decision, including a recent 24% increase in aviation tax, which the airline had warned would lead to a reduction in its presence in the German capital if not reversed. The airline is also concerned about rising air navigation charges and an impending increase in security fee caps that airports may charge.
Impact on Berlin Operations
The cuts will reduce the number of Ryanair aircraft based in Berlin from nine to seven, resulting in the cancellation of six routes. These routes include flights to Brussels, Chania (Crete), Kaunas (Lithuania), Krakow (Poland), Luxembourg, and Riga (Latvia). Ryanair plans to shift its capacity to other lower-cost EU countries such as Italy, Poland, and Spain.
Ryanair’s Criticism of Berlin-Brandenburg Airport
Ryanair criticized the Berlin-Brandenburg airport, describing it as “heavily underutilized” and citing “excessive access costs and chronic mismanagement.” The airline pointed out that Germany’s air travel recovery is the slowest in Europe, with Berlin airport lagging behind other German and European airports.
Response from Berlin-Brandenburg Airport
Berlin-Brandenburg airport expressed regret over Ryanair’s decision but acknowledged the airline’s criticism. A spokesperson for the airport noted that the state air traffic tax had more than doubled since 2019, a development that the entire industry has criticized. Germany’s Transport Ministry, while declining to comment on individual company decisions, stated that it was examining measures to mitigate the significant increase in air traffic control charges.
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