Ryanair Announces Closure of Berlin Operating Base and Reduction in German Flight Capacity

Apr 27, 2026, 10:30

Introduction

The airline Ryanair has announced the cessation of its operating base in Berlin effective October 24, alongside a significant reduction in its winter flight schedule for the German capital.

Main Body

The decision involves the reallocation of seven aircraft from Berlin to other European Union member states, specifically Sweden, Slovakia, Albania, and Italy, where aviation taxes have been abolished. This operational shift is projected to reduce annual passenger volumes in Berlin from 4.5 million to 2.2 million, with the winter flight schedule being reduced by 50%. While flights will continue after October, they will be serviced by aircraft based in other locations. Personnel currently stationed in Berlin have been offered transfers to various European hubs. Management at Ryanair attributes these measures to an unsustainable fiscal environment within German aviation. According to the carrier, aviation taxes increased from €7.30 to €15.50 per passenger since 2019, while air traffic control fees have tripled to €3.30 per passenger. Furthermore, the airline cites a 50% increase in airport fees since the pandemic, with an additional 10% rise expected by 2029, and security fees projected to rise from €10 in 2024 to €20 by January 2028. This follows a pattern of withdrawal from the German market, including the closure of bases in Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, and Stuttgart, and the termination of services to Dresden, Leipzig, and Dortmund. Stakeholder responses to these developments vary. The Berlin Brandenburg Airport administration expressed surprise at the announcement, stating that no increase in airport charges is planned and that negotiations with airlines are ongoing. Simultaneously, the German Finance Ministry indicated that the Federal Cabinet has approved plans to revert flight taxes to 2024 levels. Conversely, the trade union Verdi characterized the airline's strategy as being driven exclusively by profit, asserting that employees are treated as disposable assets. From a transport perspective, rail analysts suggest that the reduction in low-cost flight availability may increase passenger utilization of Berlin's rail connections to cities such as Paris, Stockholm, and Vienna. Broader operational challenges are also impacting the carrier's wider network. Ryanair has reduced approximately 10% of its summer flights from Dublin Airport, a move the company attributes to a 32-million passenger cap rather than fuel costs. However, the wider aviation sector is experiencing financial pressure due to the Gulf conflict, which has caused jet fuel prices to more than double since late February. This volatility has led to warnings from Ryanair and American Airlines regarding potential flight cancellations and the erosion of projected profits due to increased expenditure.

Conclusion

Ryanair is downsizing its German operations due to perceived fiscal inefficiency, while simultaneously managing capacity constraints in Dublin and industry-wide fuel price volatility.

Vocabulary Learning

disposable (adj.)

disposable / able to be discarded after use; not valuable可丟棄的

Example:Employees were treated as disposable assets by the management.

reallocation (n.)

reallocation / the act of assigning or distributing something again重新分配

Example:The reallocation of resources will ensure more efficient operations.

unsustainable (adj.)

unsustainable / not capable of being maintained over a long period無法維持的

Example:The unsustainable debt level could lead to a fiscal crisis.

volatile (adj.)

volatile / likely to change rapidly and unpredictably波動的

Example:The volatile market caused investors to hesitate.

withdrawal (n.)

withdrawal / the act of removing or taking back something撤回

Example:The company's withdrawal from the market shocked investors.

Sentence Learning

Ryanair has reduced approximately 10% of its summer flights from Dublin Airport, a move the company attributes to a 32-million passenger cap rather than fuel costs.

Reduced Relative Clause: The clause 'a move the company attributes to a 32-million passenger cap' is a reduced relative clause that omits 'that' and the linking verb, condensing 'a move that the company attributes to a 32-million passenger cap'.簡化關係子句: 這是一個簡化的關係子句，省略了 'that' 和 'is'，將 'a move that the company attributes to a 32-million passenger cap' 簡化為 'a move the company attributes to a 32-million passenger cap'。

This operational shift is projected to reduce annual passenger volumes in Berlin from 4.5 million to 2.2 million, with the winter flight schedule being reduced by 50%.

Participle Phrase: The phrase 'with the winter flight schedule being reduced by 50%' is a participial clause functioning as an adverbial modifier of time, indicating the extent of the reduction.分詞短語: 'with the winter flight schedule being reduced by 50%' 是一個分詞短語，作為時間狀語修飾前面的動作。

While flights will continue after October, they will be serviced by aircraft based in other locations.

Subordinate Clause with While: The 'While' clause introduces a temporal concession, setting the condition that flights will continue after October.while 子句: 'While flights will continue after October' 是一個 while 子句，表示時間上的讓步。

Due to the Gulf conflict, which has caused jet fuel prices to more than double since late February, this volatility has led to warnings from Ryanair and American Airlines regarding potential flight cancellations and the erosion of projected profits due to increased expenditure.

Relative Clause: The clause 'which has caused jet fuel prices to more than double since late February' modifies 'the Gulf conflict', providing additional information.關係子句: 'which has caused jet fuel prices to more than double since late February' 是一個關係子句，修飾 'the Gulf conflict'。

Appositive Phrase: The phrase 'specifically Sweden, Slovakia, Albania, and Italy' is an appositive that clarifies which member states are involved.同位語: 'specifically Sweden, Slovakia, Albania, and Italy' 是一個同位語，補充說明 'other European Union member states'。