Why is Ryanair adding 11 new routes after Germany cut flight ticket taxes?

ByUjjwal Sukhwani•January 16, 2026 at 01:30 AM•3 min read

AIRLINES

Why is Ryanair adding 11 new routes after Germany cut flight ticket taxes?

Ryanair announced 11 new German routes and 300,000 seats for Summer 2026, citing the government's flight ticket tax reduction, while cutting flights at high-cost major airports.

Key Points

1Ryanair is adding 11 new routes and 300,000 seats to its German Summer 2026 schedule, primarily at smaller airports like Weeze and Memmingen.
2The expansion is a direct response to the German government's November 2025 decision to reduce the national flight ticket tax (Luftverkehrsteuer) by up to €14 per passenger.
3The low-cost carrier is cutting flights by 20% in Hamburg and 5% in Berlin, citing high, unreduced airport fees and overall German aviation operating costs.
4The airline is lobbying Chancellor Friedrich Merz's administration to completely abolish the tax and reduce air traffic control and security fees to enable a potential doubling of its German operations.

Europe's largest low-cost carrier, Ryanair, is expanding its presence in Germany. The Irish company announced 11 new routes for its summer 2026 schedule. This move adds 300,000 seats to the German market. Ryanair stated this is a direct response to a recent government decision. The German government is reducing the country's flight ticket tax.

Strategic Shift to Regional Airports

Ryanair's expansion focuses mainly on smaller, regional airports. These include Weeze, Memmingen, and Bremen. There are also additional departures planned from Cologne-Bonn Airport. This strategy highlights the airline’s focus on cost-competitive locations.

However, the airline is simultaneously reducing its capacity at major city airports. Flights from Hamburg are set to drop by 20%. Services from Berlin will also see a 5% reduction. Ryanair officials complained that these major airports have not lowered their own operating fees. The airline consistently criticizes the high German aviation operating costs.

Response to Government Tax Relief

Ryanair official Eddie Wilson confirmed the new services. He stated they respond to the government's tax reduction decision. This reduction in the Luftverkehrsteuer was decided in November 2025. The tax cut is part of a plan to support the struggling German aviation sector. The measure will reduce taxes by an estimated €350 million. The change is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Despite the new routes, the total number of flights for summer 2026 remains lower than the previous year. This indicates that German aviation operating costs remain a significant challenge. The airline has long argued that Germany is one of Europe’s most expensive markets for air travel.

Calls for Further Cost Reduction

Ryanair is urging the administration of Chancellor Friedrich Merz to take further action. The airline wants the government to continue its "positive momentum." They are calling for the complete abolition of the "harmful" air traffic tax. Furthermore, the carrier demands a reduction in fees for air traffic control and passenger security checks.

Industry data supports the airline's stance on high costs. According to reports, government-imposed charges in Germany have more than doubled since 2020. These costs include air passenger duty and air security fees. The German Aviation Industry Association (BDL) noted that Germany ranks 28th out of 31 European countries in post-pandemic aviation recovery. The high cost structure is seen as the primary reason for this lag.

State-imposed charges in Germany can reach around €35 per passenger.
By comparison, the total burden per passenger in Spain or Italy is less than ten euros.

Ryanair believes that if these additional changes are made, its operations in Germany could double. This would allow the budget airline to serve 34 million passengers per year. This potential expansion underscores the significant impact that government policy and airport fees have on airline capacity and route planning.

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