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Ryanair Reduces Operations at Berlin Brandenburg Airport
Ryanair has announced it will close its base at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) by October 24, significantly reducing its presence at the airport. The airline criticized BER for being too expensive, complicated, and inflexible, echoing its long-standing complaints about the cost of flying in Germany. While Ryanair will continue some flights to Berlin, it will cut roughly half of its current capacity, removing about 2.5 million seats annually from the airport’s offerings [Source 1].
This reduction represents a major setback for BER, which has already faced operational and financial challenges since opening. Ryanair described BER as “Europe’s most unsuccessful airport,” underscoring its dissatisfaction with the location and infrastructure [Source 2].
Consequences for BER and Passenger Traffic
The departure of several Ryanair aircraft and crews will lead to a sharp drop in passenger numbers, according to BER CEO Engelbert Lütke Daldrup. Although other airlines like Eurowings plan to increase their flight schedules to fill some of the gaps left by Ryanair, the full loss will not be compensated. This reduction is causing BER to initiate cost-cutting measures, including a spending freeze and postponed investments, to manage the financial impact [Source 4][Source 5].
BER is also considering easing its strict night-time flight charges to attract more airlines to operate late flights, a move intended to improve airport flexibility and competitiveness in response to declining passenger numbers [Source 6].
Implications for Expats and International Travellers
For expats, international students, and foreign workers in Germany, Ryanair’s reduction at BER means fewer budget flight options directly from Berlin. Some popular Ryanair routes, such as Bologna, Fuerteventura, and Gran Canaria, will no longer be available from BER, though Ryanair will maintain service on select routes. This decrease could lead to higher average airfares and less flight availability, thereby affecting travel costs and planning flexibility [Source 8].
Travelers relying on Ryanair for inexpensive and flexible flying options should monitor alternative carriers increasing their presence at BER, such as Eurowings, which is expanding its network to compensate for Ryanair’s withdrawal. It may be necessary to book flights earlier and consider alternative airports or airlines to secure the best offers. Awareness of BER’s evolving fee structure and flight schedules will also help expats optimize their travel plans [Source 3][Source 6].
More details on this development can be found in the original German source: Tagesschau article on Ryanair and BER [Seed Source].
