Ryanair to add 300,000 seats in Germany for summer 2026 following tax relief

Germany

Airline announces 11 new routes after Germany moves to cut air traffic tax and freeze air navigation charges, reversing part of its planned capacity reductions

Ryanair has announced plans to reintroduce 300,000 seats and launch 11 new routes across Germany for the summer 2026 season. The expansion follows the German government’s decision to reduce the country’s air traffic tax from July 2026 and to freeze air navigation charges, a move Ryanair describes as a necessary step to restore competitiveness and stimulate aviation growth.

The airline says the policy shift allows it to partially reverse earlier capacity cuts planned for summer 2026. Germany now joins a growing list of European countries that have reduced or abolished aviation taxes in order to encourage traffic growth and strengthen connectivity.

Growth focused on cost-competitive airports

According to Ryanair, the additional capacity will primarily benefit airports that have actively worked with the airline to reduce operating costs. These include Cologne Bonn Airport, Weeze Airport, Memmingen Airport, and Bremen Airport.

By contrast, Ryanair said it will continue to reduce capacity at higher-cost airports that have not lowered what it calls uncompetitive airport charges. Capacity at Berlin Brandenburg Airport is set to fall by five percent, while Hamburg Airport will see a reduction of around 20 percent for summer 2026.

Germany still trailing other European markets

While welcoming the tax reduction as a positive first step, Ryanair argues that Germany remains significantly less competitive than countries such as Sweden, Albania, Hungary, Slovakia and parts of Italy, where air traffic taxes have been abolished entirely. As a result, even with the reinstated 300,000 seats, Ryanair’s total capacity in Germany for 2026 will remain below 2025 levels due to ongoing reductions at high-cost airports.

Call for further reforms

Ryanair has urged the German government and Transport Minister Patrick Schieder to build on the current momentum by abolishing the air traffic tax altogether, reducing air navigation and security charges, and ensuring competitive airport fees nationwide.

The airline says that if such reforms are implemented, it is ready to significantly expand its presence in Germany. Its proposed growth plan includes doubling annual passenger numbers to 34 million, basing an additional 30 aircraft in the country, investing around 3 billion US dollars, launching more than 200 new routes, and creating over 1,000 new aviation jobs.

Ryanair welcomes policy shift

“We welcome the German government’s decision to cut the air traffic tax from July 2026 and to freeze air navigation charges,” said Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair. “This sensible move has enabled Ryanair to restore 300,000 seats and open 11 new routes for summer 2026, boosting traffic, tourism and jobs across Germany, particularly at airports such as Cologne, Niederrhein, Memmingen and Bremen, which have lowered costs to secure much-needed growth.”

Wilson added that while the measures mark progress, Germany still lags behind more competitive European markets. “Unless the government goes further by abolishing the air traffic tax and reducing security, air navigation and airport charges, major cities such as Berlin and Hamburg will continue to lose passengers to more competitive airports elsewhere in Europe,” he said.

Ryanair said it remains ready to accelerate growth in Germany if further cost-reducing reforms are introduced.