The Lufthansa Group subsidiary said it will station two additional aircraft at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport for the upcoming winter schedule, increasing its local fleet to 11 aircraft.
Eurowings Adds New Routes And Capacity
The airline plans to introduce new services and expand flights to several leisure destinations as it moves to fill gaps left by Ryanair’s network reductions.
Among the new destinations is Bologna in Italy, previously served by Ryanair from Berlin.
Eurowings will also increase services to the Canary Islands, including flights to Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife.
The carrier said its expanded Berlin operation will serve nearly 50 destinations.
Ryanair Cuts Berlin Presence Over Costs
Ryanair recently confirmed it would withdraw seven aircraft based at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport and cut its winter schedule at the airport by approximately half.
The Dublin-based airline cited high government taxes, airport fees and rising operational costs as reasons behind the decision.
Germany’s aviation sector has faced mounting pressure from airlines over airport charges and air passenger taxes, which carriers argue reduce competitiveness.
Trade Union Disputes Ryanair Explanation
German trade union Verdi has disputed Ryanair’s explanation, suggesting the cuts may instead be linked to labour developments involving a local works council at Ryanair subsidiary Malta Air.
The issue has added further tension to ongoing debates surrounding airline labour relations and operating conditions in Germany.
German Parliament Debates Aviation Taxes
The expansion announcement comes as Germany’s parliament prepares to debate a planned reduction in air passenger duty.
Ryanair has already criticised the proposed reduction as insufficient, arguing stronger measures are needed to improve Germany’s competitiveness within the European aviation market.
Lufthansa Group Strengthens Berlin Position
With the additional Eurowings aircraft, the Lufthansa Group is strengthening its market-leading presence in Berlin.
Alongside Eurowings, airlines within the Lufthansa Group operating regular Berlin services include Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and SunExpress.
Eurowings Chief Executive Max Kownatzki said the airline continues seeing long-term growth potential in Berlin despite broader economic and geopolitical challenges.
Berlin Remains Key European Aviation Market
Berlin-Brandenburg Airport continues serving as one of Germany’s most important aviation hubs for both business and leisure travel.
Competition between low-cost carriers and legacy airline groups remains intense as airlines continue adjusting networks and capacity across Europe ahead of future travel seasons.
