Ryanair announced ‌on Friday that it will close its operating base ‌in Berlin and reduce its flights to and from ​Germany’s capital by 50 per cent in its winter schedule, citing higher fees and taxes.

All seven Berlin-based aircraft will be ​relocated to lower-cost airports in other European countries such ⁠as Sweden, Slovakia, Albania and Italy, the Ireland-based ‌company ‌said ​in a statement.

Berlin-based pilots and cabin crew received notification on Friday ⁠of the ​intended base closure from ​October 24th, according to the statement.

“All flight ‌crew can secure alternative ​positions elsewhere in the Ryanair network across Europe,” ⁠Ryanair said.

Calling German aviation “broken,” Ryanair said the decision follows another 10 per cent fee increase in Berlin that has left the company with no alternative but to close the base.

The carrier said the move will result in the loss of more than 2 million Ryanair seats per year, and a reduction of traffic to 2.2 million passengers in 2027 from 4.5 million now.

“With no meaningful cost reform in Berlin or in Germany nationally, we have no alternative but to switch aircraft from Germany to other more competitive markets elsewhere in Europe while Germany and Berlin Airport continue to fail,” Ryanair said.

Ryanair ⁠has ​repeatedly criticised Germany and its airports for the level of fees and taxes.

Berlin has long struggled to establish itself as a major hub alongside Frankfurt and Munich, with only a limited number of intercontinental connections and now a shrinking set of regional flights.

Other international airlines have long complained that flying to and from German airports was too expensive and have threatened to ‌reduce their ⁠presence.

Germany’s government approved plans on April 1st to reduce air traffic tax ‌from July, taking it back down to May ​2024 levels in an attempt to ​boost the sector. - Reuters/Bloomberg