Ryanair Calls on German Government to Repeal Increased Aviation Tax

• Ryanair, the Irish low-cost airline, has urged the German government to repeal the increased aviation tax that has been in effect since May. The airline warned that it might reduce its services at German airports by 10% or 1.5 million seats for the next summer season if the tax is not revoked.
• Ryanair also called for the reduction of air traffic control fees and the cancellation of the planned increase in security check fees at airports.
• The airline attributed the slow recovery of air traffic at German airports from the COVID-19 pandemic to these high costs imposed by government policies.

Frankfurt, August 20 (FFN) – Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers, has called on the German government to repeal the increased aviation tax that has been in place since May, citing it as a major factor hindering the recovery of air traffic at German airports. The airline’s CEO, Eddie Wilson, warned that Ryanair might reduce its operations at German airports by 10% or 1.5 million seats in the next summer season if the tax remains in effect.

In addition to demanding the repeal of the aviation tax, Ryanair also urged the government to reduce air traffic control fees and to cancel the planned increase in security check fees for passengers at airports. According to Wilson, these high costs are causing German citizens to pay the highest airfare prices in Europe, largely due to the “monopoly of high prices” maintained by the national carrier, Lufthansa.

The German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) recently reported that while long-haul flight prices slightly decreased in the first half of 2024, prices for European flights remained 2.7% higher than the already elevated levels of the previous year.

Overview of Airfare Prices and Ryanair’s Potential Service Reduction