Ryanair is set to eliminate around one-fifth of its flight options from Berlin.
Budget carrier Ryanair gripes about excessive taxes and charges in Germany and warns of significantly lowering its service at Berlin's primary airport BER starting the following summer. Numerous routes are at risk.
The airline intends to slash roughly 20% of its service at BER from the upcoming summer. According to the company, the sky-high entrance fees, which the German government and airport officials haven't lowered, are the main culprits.
As a result, the number of planes based in Berlin will decline from the current nine to seven. A total of six routes will be eliminated and will no longer be served: Brussels, Chania on Crete, Kaunas in Lithuania, Krakow, Luxembourg, and Riga. Ryanair's Germany, Austria, and Switzerland boss, Eddie Wilson, expressed his concern by stating, "The government must act."
Air travel in the country has yet to surpass the pre-pandemic level. The situation at BER, in particular, is grim. In 2021, the number of passengers only reached around 70% of the pre-crisis figure. This is mainly due to the high taxes and fees, which not only impact BER but also other locations, thereby inhibiting the expansion of services.
Ryanair also has locations in Weeze, Cologne, Frankfurt-Hahn, Nuremberg, Baden, and Memmingen. Whether the services will be scaled back at these locations remains uncertain.
The high taxes and charges at BER are causing Ryanair to consider reducing services at its other German locations as well. Despite the challenging circumstances, Ryanair's machinery at Weeze, Cologne, Frankfurt-Hahn, Nuremberg, Baden, and Memmingen continue to operate aircraft.
