Overview
- Ryanair announced in early October that it will remove about 700,000 seats for winter 2026/27 and close its Berlin‑Brandenburg (BER) base, reallocating seven aircraft to other markets.
- A BDL analysis shows Germany has lost roughly 300,000 flights and more than 35 million seats since 2019, with 473 regular routes discontinued and only 349 new routes added.
- The decline is concentrated in domestic and business‑oriented links while tourist ‘warm‑water’ routes have recovered or grown, leaving many regional airports and exporters less connected.
- Industry groups and airport managers blame sharply higher state charges, airport fees and security and air‑traffic costs that have roughly doubled since 2019 and say the July 1, 2026 tax cut was insufficient.
- Policymakers face pressure from regional leaders and industry to deliver deeper relief because diminished connectivity is already hurting trade fairs, inbound tourism and some local investment decisions.