Tuesday, August 27, 2024 Ryanair , Europe’s largest low-cost airline, has launched a scathing attack on Germany’s air travel market. The airline company is accusing the country of having a “broken” system plagued by high taxes, excessive fees and a lack of competition. Key Points: Slow Recovery: Germany’s air travel market has only recovered 82% of its pre-Covid traffic, the worst performance among all EU states.
High Taxes and Fees: Ryanair blames Germany’s high aviation taxes and fees, the highest in Europe, for the sluggish recovery. Lufthansa Monopoly: The airline also criticized Lufthansa’s high-fare monopoly, which has contributed to inflated prices for German passengers. Threat of Capacity Cuts: Ryanair 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. Impact on Tourism: These reductions will further damage inbound tourism to Germany and hinder the country’s post-Covid economic recovery. Conclusion: Ryanair’s strong criticism of Germany’s air travel market highlights the urgent need for reforms to address the challenges facing the industry.
The threat of further capacity cuts could have significant implications for both German consumers and the country’s tourism sector..