Ryanair, Europe’s largest low-cost airline, has launched a scathing attack on Germany’s air travel market. The airline company accuses Germany of having a “broken” system plagued by high taxes, excessive fees, and a lack of competition.
Ryanair claims that Germany’s air travel market has only recovered 82% of its pre-Covid traffic, making it the worst performing among all EU states. They attribute this slow recovery to the country’s high aviation taxes and fees, which they say are the highest in Europe. Ryanair also criticizes Lufthansa’s dominance in the market, arguing that its high-fare monopoly has inflated prices for German passengers.
The airline has warned that if the German government does not reduce aviation taxes, it will cut another 1.5 million seats from its German capacity for Summer 2025. This reduction would further damage inbound tourism to Germany and hinder the country’s post-Covid economic recovery.
Ryanair’s strong criticism highlights the urgent need for reforms in Germany’s air travel market. The threat of further capacity cuts could have significant implications for both German consumers and the country’s tourism sector. These reforms are crucial to address the challenges facing the industry and ensure a healthy and competitive air travel market in Germany.
