Ryanair Closes Berlin Base (CEFR Compare)

Apr 27, 2026, 10:30

Ryanair Closes Berlin Base

Introduction

The airline Ryanair is closing its base in Berlin on October 24. There will be fewer flights in Berlin during winter.

Main Body

Ryanair is moving seven planes to other countries. These countries are Sweden, Slovakia, Albania, and Italy. Fewer people will fly from Berlin now. Ryanair says flying in Germany is too expensive. Taxes and airport fees are too high. The airline already closed bases in other German cities. Berlin Airport is surprised. The German government wants to lower taxes. A workers' group says Ryanair only cares about money. Fuel prices are also very high because of wars. This makes flying expensive for many airlines.

Conclusion

Ryanair is leaving Berlin because it costs too much money. High fuel prices also cause problems for the company.

Vocabulary Learning

airport (n.)

airfield / place where aircraft take off and land機場

Example:Berlin Airport is surprised by the decision.

base (n.)

foundation / the place where aircraft are kept基地

Example:Ryanair closed its base in Berlin.

flights (n.)

journeys / scheduled trips by plane航班

Example:There will be fewer flights in Berlin during winter.

fuel (n.)

energy / substance that powers engines燃油

Example:Fuel prices are very high because of wars.

taxes (n.)

levies / government charges on goods or services稅金

Example:Ryanair says flying in Germany is too expensive because of high taxes.

Sentence Learning

Ryanair is closing its base in Berlin on October 24.

Time: The word 'on' shows a specific date.時間: 'on' 表示具體日期。

Ryanair says flying in Germany is too expensive.

Preposition-Location: The phrase 'in Germany' tells where the action happens.位置介詞: 'in Germany' 表示動作發生的地方。

Ryanair is moving seven planes to other countries.

Preposition-Direction: The word 'to' shows the direction or destination.方向介詞: 'to' 表示方向或目的地。

Fuel prices are also very high because of wars.

Connector-Because: The word 'because' explains why something happens.原因連接詞: 'because' 解釋了原因。

These countries are Sweden, Slovakia, Albania, and Italy.

Connector-And: The word 'and' connects items in a list.並列連接詞: 'and' 將列表中的項目連接起來。

Ryanair to Close Berlin Base and Reduce Flights in Germany

Introduction

Ryanair has announced that it will close its operating base in Berlin on October 24. Along with this closure, the airline will significantly reduce the number of flights it operates from the German capital during the winter season.

Main Body

The airline plans to move seven aircraft from Berlin to other EU countries, such as Sweden, Slovakia, Albania, and Italy, where aviation taxes have been removed. As a result, the number of annual passengers in Berlin is expected to drop from 4.5 million to 2.2 million, and the winter schedule will be cut by 50%. Although some flights will continue after October, they will be operated by planes based elsewhere. Staff in Berlin have been offered the chance to transfer to other European hubs. Ryanair management claimed that these changes are necessary because the cost of operating in Germany has become too high. The company emphasized that aviation taxes per passenger rose from €7.30 to €15.50 since 2019, and air traffic control fees have tripled. Furthermore, airport fees have increased by 50% since the pandemic, and security costs are expected to double by 2028. This follows a trend of the airline leaving the German market, including previous closures in Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, and Stuttgart. Different groups have reacted to this news in various ways. Berlin Brandenburg Airport officials expressed surprise, asserting that they have no plans to increase charges. Meanwhile, the German Finance Ministry stated that the government plans to return flight taxes to 2024 levels. On the other hand, the Verdi trade union criticized the airline, claiming that the strategy is driven only by profit and that employees are being treated poorly. Additionally, transport analysts suggest that fewer low-cost flights may lead more passengers to use trains to reach cities like Paris and Vienna.

Conclusion

In summary, Ryanair is reducing its presence in Germany due to high operating costs, while also dealing with capacity limits in Dublin and rising fuel prices across the aviation industry.

Vocabulary Learning

capacity (n.)

the maximum amount or number that can be accommodated or produced容量

Example:The airline faces capacity limits in Dublin.

closure (n.)

the act of closing something, especially a business or facility關閉

Example:The closure of the Berlin base will affect many employees.

operating (adj.)

relating to the functioning of a business or system與運作相關的

Example:The airline's operating costs have risen.

significantly (adv.)

to a large extent or degree大幅地

Example:The airline will significantly reduce flights.

taxes (n.)

fees imposed by governments on goods, services, or income稅金

Example:Aviation taxes have been removed in some EU countries.

Sentence Learning

The airline plans to move seven aircraft from Berlin to other EU countries, such as Sweden, Slovakia, Albania, and Italy, where aviation taxes have been removed.

Relative Clause: This clause (where aviation taxes have been removed) provides additional information about the EU countries, specifying that aviation taxes have been removed in them.關係子句: 此子句（where aviation taxes have been removed）提供關於提及的歐盟國家的必要資訊，說明在這些國家航空稅已被取消。

Staff in Berlin have been offered the chance to transfer to other European hubs.

Passive Voice: The sentence uses passive construction (have been offered) to focus on the action received by staff, rather than who performed it.被動語態: 本句使用被動語態（have been offered），將焦點放在員工所接受的行動上，而非執行者。

Although some flights will continue after October, they will be operated by planes based elsewhere.

Contrast Conjunction: The conjunction 'Although' introduces a contrast between the expectation of flight continuation and the fact that they will be operated elsewhere.對比連接詞: 'Although' 這個連接詞引入了對比，說明雖然有航班會在十月後繼續，但它們將由其他基地的飛機運營。

Ryanair management claimed that these changes are necessary because the cost of operating in Germany has become too high.

Causal Clause: The clause 'because the cost of operating in Germany has become too high' explains the reason for the changes.原因子句: 子句 'because the cost of operating in Germany has become too high' 解釋了變更的原因。

The German Finance Ministry stated that the government plans to return flight taxes to 2024 levels.

Reported Speech: The sentence reports what the German Finance Ministry said, using indirect speech.報告語氣: 本句使用間接語言報告德國財政部門所說的內容。

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

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'。