Major Airliner Reduces Germany Flights Due to Tax Dispute

Ryanair has announced significant reductions in its winter flight schedule for Germany. The cuts result from Berlin’s failure to address high location charges that Ryanair claims are among the highest in Europe.

Impact of Cuts on German Aviation

The airline will eliminate 800,000 seats across 24 routes in nine airports. Affected locations include major hubs like Berlin, Hamburg, and Memmingen. Other airports such as Dortmund, Dresden, and Leipzig are also facing closures.

Ryanair’s Position

Dara Brady, Ryanair’s Chief Marketing Officer, criticized these cuts as “entirely avoidable.” He urged Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder to reform the current aviation system in Germany.

According to Ryanair, the company warned the German government of shifting capacity to other EU countries unless they reversed an aviation tax increase scheduled for May 2024. They are also calling for reduced air traffic control (ATC) charges.

Concerns Over Air Travel Recovery

• Germany’s air travel market has recovered only 88% of its pre-COVID traffic.
• This recovery rate is the lowest among major European markets.
• High access costs and rising aviation taxes are seen as key obstacles.

Brady emphasized that if the German government does not address these costs, the nation’s air traffic risks further decline. He highlighted that other competitive European countries would benefit from Ryanair’s growth.

Future Prospects for Ryanair in Germany

Ryanair aims to expand its operations in Germany, proposing an additional 30 aircraft and a potential investment exceeding $3 billion. This could double Ryanair’s traffic to 34 million passengers annually and create over 1,000 jobs across the country.

Broader Context: Similar Cuts in Spain

In a related move, Ryanair is also reducing its Spanish flight schedule, cutting 1.2 million seats for next summer. This decision stems from escalating regional airport fees imposed by Aena, the Spanish airport group.

Ryanair plans to halt all flights to and from Asturias Airport due to these high fees. The airline stated this reduction aligns with previously announced cuts of one million seats for winter 2025 in regional Spain.

The ongoing disputes over airport charges pose significant challenges for Ryanair. The airline continues to advocate for changes that foster a more competitive environment in European aviation, particularly in Germany and Spain.