Ryanair announces to close Frankfurt base
The airline has reallocated their five aircraft to airports that have responded with lower airport charges to stimulate traffic recovery.
On Friday, Ryanair, one of Europe's largest airlines announced to close its Frankfurt am Main base on 31st March 2022.
"We are disappointed to announce the closure of our Frankfurt am Main base at the end of March 2022, but we have no alternative in response to a decision from the Airport to increase its airport fees, despite the collapse in traffic caused by the Covid-19 pandemic," Jason McGuinness, Director of Commercial, Ryanair.
During the Covid recovery phase, Frankfurt airport, instead of traffic recovery incentives, has chosen to increase prices even further, making Frankfurt uncompetitive with European airports.
In a statement, the airline said that it has reallocated their five aircraft to airports that have responded with lower airport charges to stimulate traffic recovery.
"While Ryanair continues to invest in German airports who understand the requirement to lower airport charges to recover traffic, competition in the German market has been massively distorted by the €9bn of State aid that was pumped into Lufthansa, who continues to cut its fleet, connections, and jobs," McGuinness said.
In summer 2022, Ryanair is set to grow its fleet with 65 new B737 8-200 'Gamechanger' aircraft. Since some airlines have reduced fleet and capacity in Europe, Ryanair is now attracting many airports throughout Europe.
"Ryanair continues to successfully negotiate the long-term low costs required from airports to underpin Ryanair's industry leading low fares, which is driving Ryanair's recovery and leading Europe's post-Covid recovery," McGuinness added.
