Ryanair has revealed plans to close its operational base at Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport later this year, citing persistently high costs and upcoming increases in airport charges.
The Irish low-cost carrier made the announcement on April 24, 2026, with the closure set for October 24. Seven aircraft currently based at BER will be moved to other European locations where operators face more favorable tax and fee environments, including Sweden, Italy, Albania, and Slovakia.
During a press conference in the German capital, Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson and Chief Commercial Officer Jason McGuinness sharply criticized the airport's management for failing to offer competitive terms. They highlighted a planned 10 percent rise in fees for the 2027-2029 period, on top of charges that have more than doubled in some categories since 2019. The executives argued that these increases are unsustainable, especially given that passenger traffic at the airport has fallen 27 percent since 2019, making BER the worst recovering major gateway in Europe post-pandemic.
Other carriers including Lufthansa, easyJet and Norwegian have also scaled back operations at the facility. Ryanair executives pointed to the airport's night flight restrictions as another factor limiting aircraft utilization and overall efficiency. Wilson and McGuinness noted that while some German airports have been more cooperative, the same cost and regulatory pressures are evident nationwide.
This move marks the fourth time Ryanair has closed a base in Germany, a market where the airline now deploys 20 fewer aircraft than it did in 2019. The Berlin closure will result in the loss of ten routes and approximately half of the carrier's traffic at the airport. However, Ryanair said it will maintain some service to Berlin from its other European bases.
Around 210 pilots and cabin crew will be offered the opportunity to transfer to positions at the airline's expanding bases elsewhere in Europe rather than face redundancy.
Wilson described the facility as a 'white elephant,' referencing its long-delayed opening and massive cost overruns, and compared its strategy to a half-empty hotel choosing to raise room rates instead of cutting them to attract guests. The executives warned that the base closure may force remaining operators to shoulder even higher charges as the airport seeks to recover fixed costs.
Ryanair indicated it would be prepared to reverse course and restore the base if BER's management recognizes the competitive pressures it faces from other European hubs and adjusts its fees and policies accordingly. The decision aligns with the airline's broader strategy of shifting capacity away from high-cost locations toward markets that have recently lowered aviation taxes or charges.
This latest development builds on previous capacity reductions at Berlin and other German airports announced in 2024 and 2025. Industry analysts see it as part of an ongoing recalibration by low-cost carriers seeking to optimize costs amid varying regulatory and airport pricing regimes across the continent.