Eurowings and Ryanair Slash Flights in Hamburg

Eurowings, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, announced on Friday that it would cut more than 1,000 flights to and from Hamburg Airport in the summer of 2025. The airline cited sharply increased location costs as the main reason for the reduction, which includes the cancellation of key domestic routes like the connection between Hamburg and Cologne-Bonn Airport. In addition to the domestic cuts, Eurowings plans to remove six other destinations in Europe and North Africa from its schedule.

This move follows a similar announcement from Ryanair, which recently decided to reduce its flights from Hamburg by 60%. Both airlines attributed their decisions to rising operational costs in Germany, particularly escalating airport fees, taxes, and infrastructure charges. These rising costs are increasingly making flights to and from German airports unprofitable, forcing airlines to relocate their services to more cost-efficient locations in other European Union countries.

High Airport Fees and Rising Taxes Drive Reductions

Eurowings CEO Jens Bischof expressed frustration over the situation, calling the increased costs at Hamburg Airport “disproportionate.” Bischof noted that the decision to cut routes was regrettable but necessary to maintain financial viability. He warned that these reductions would significantly weaken Hamburg’s connectivity and make air travel more expensive for passengers. Eurowings, which is currently the market leader at Hamburg Airport with 16 stationed aircraft and 70 direct destinations, indicated that this might only be the beginning of broader cuts across its German operations.

Ryanair also voiced similar concerns. In its announcement, the Irish low-cost carrier pointed to Germany’s rising air traffic tax, security fees, and air traffic control charges, which it says have become the highest in Europe. These increased expenses, Ryanair argued, are hampering the country’s post-COVID recovery and are forcing airlines to reconsider their operations in the German market. Ryanair has already reduced its services in Berlin by 20% and completely halted flights at smaller hubs in Dortmund, Dresden, and Leipzig.

Hamburg Airport Defends Fee Increases

In response to the criticism from Eurowings and Ryanair, Hamburg Airport CEO Christian Kunsch defended the decision to raise airport fees, stating that the increase is modest and necessary to cover rising energy costs and higher wages for airport staff. According to Kunsch, the planned fee hike would raise the cost per passenger by just €2.30, bringing Hamburg in line with airports in Berlin, Düsseldorf, and Stuttgart.

Kunsch dismissed Eurowings’ claims of exorbitant fees, pointing out that the actual airport charges make up only 4-6% of an airline’s total operating costs. He argued that the larger issue was the significant rise in other location costs, such as air traffic control and security charges, which have nearly doubled in recent years.

However, the airlines’ discontent has raised questions about the future competitiveness of German airports, particularly as more airlines consider shifting their operations to neighboring countries with lower fees and taxes.

Political and Economic Fallout from Flight Reductions

The impact of these airline cutbacks is being felt far beyond the airport terminals. Local politicians, business leaders, and industry experts have expressed concern over the economic consequences of reduced air traffic. In Hamburg, opposition politicians have criticized the city’s handling of the situation, warning that the loss of flights could turn the airport into a “provincial” facility.

Dennis Thering, the leader of Hamburg’s CDU parliamentary group, voiced alarm at the string of negative news, accusing the city’s government of inaction. Other critics, including FDP representatives, warned that the reduction in air services would harm Hamburg’s status as a major business hub and tourist destination.

Industry bodies, such as the Federal Association of German Airlines (BDF), have also expressed concern over the situation. The BDF’s director, Michael Engel, noted that the cost of airport fees is much higher than the airport operators claim, accounting for roughly 15% of total flight costs. The rising fees, coupled with Germany’s air travel tax, have put significant pressure on airlines, making it harder for them to offer competitive prices to consumers.

Future of Low-Cost Flights in Germany

The combination of higher taxes, airport fees, and operating costs is reshaping the landscape of air travel in Germany. Ryanair, which has long criticized the German government for bailing out Lufthansa with €6 billion during the pandemic, has been vocal about its frustrations, arguing that passengers are now paying the price for the government’s failure to reduce access costs.

Eurowings and Ryanair’s withdrawal from key German airports is a major signal that the cost of flying in and out of the country is becoming unsustainable for many airlines. Unless there are significant policy changes, the trend of airlines pulling back their services may continue, further reducing the availability of affordable flights for German travelers.

As summer 2025 approaches, both leisure and business travelers are likely to feel the effects of these cuts, with fewer options and higher prices becoming the new normal. The reduced connectivity from Hamburg, in particular, is expected to have a long-term impact on the city’s tourism and economy. Airlines have urged the German government to address these rising costs before the situation worsens.