Rising airport fees and high operating costs are pushing Ryanair to drop routes across Europe, the Middle East, and Turkey. At the same time, the airline is planning a new operating base in Italy for summer 2027 while sharply cutting flights in Germany.
The Irish low-cost carrier is making sweeping cuts to its network, announcing it will pull out of a total of 13 airports. Some of these exits have already taken place in 2026, while others are scheduled for 2027. Ryanair is reshaping its strategy to focus on routes it considers financially viable and to scale back at airports where operating costs and fees eat into its profits.
The Airports Ryanair Is Leaving
The pullback began in January 2026, when Ryanair stopped serving Vigo in Spain. In March, it left Amman in Jordan, Asturias in Spain, Clermont-Ferrand in France, and Ponta Delgada and Terceira in Portugal’s Azores islands. In May, it also suspended its operation from Thessaloniki airport for the winter season.
In August 2026, the airline withdrew from Rodez in France. In October, it ended flights to Bodrum and Dalaman in Turkey, Kalamata and Volos in Greece, and Niš in Serbia. The next round of exits is set for March 2027, when Ryanair will also stop flying to Bremen in Germany.
Keeping Fares Low by Cutting Costs
The cuts are part of the airline’s effort to protect its low-fare model while keeping expenses down. When a route fails to deliver the expected returns or when airport operators raise their fees, Ryanair considers reducing flights and, in some cases, dropping the route altogether.
Cutting routes also gives Ryanair leverage over airport operators and local authorities, pressuring them to offer lower fees and better terms. This allows the airline to shift planes and seats to markets where it expects to earn more.
A $200 Million Bet on Rimini
In Italy, however, Ryanair is taking a very different approach. The airline announced a $200 million investment to set up a new operating base in Rimini ahead of the summer 2027 season. The goal is to boost tourism and expand air connections to the region.
Under the plan, Ryanair will station two aircraft at Rimini airport and offer more than 600,000 low-fare seats across 17 routes. These include five new connections to Dublin, Memmingen, Stockholm, Tirana, and Warsaw. In total, the airline plans to operate 114 weekly flights from Rimini, improving access to the area and helping attract more visitors.
A key factor in the decision was reportedly the local authorities’ move to scrap the municipal tax on air passengers, which made operating there more attractive for the airline.
Major Cuts in Germany
The Italian announcement comes just a week after Ryanair revealed major flight cuts in Germany. The airline blamed the country’s especially high costs, which it says make it harder to keep fares competitive. Berlin is expected to be hit hardest, with Ryanair planning to cut about half of its routes from the city. The move is part of the airline’s broader dispute over rising aviation taxes and operating costs in the German market.
Other Airlines Are Cutting Back Too
Ryanair is not alone. According to a report in Italy’s Corriere della Sera this month, several major airlines have significantly reduced their planned capacity for the winter season. Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, and Turkish Airlines have each reportedly cut at least 1 million seats compared with the 2025-2026 winter season.
Rising jet fuel costs, especially for kerosene, are one of the main pressures on the industry and are forcing airlines to rethink their schedules. Facing higher operating expenses, carriers are trying to reduce their exposure to less profitable routes, redeploy their fleets, and stay competitive in markets with stronger demand.
What It Means for Travelers
For passengers, these changes could mean fewer direct flights, the need to use alternative airports, and possible changes in travel costs, especially in regions that rely heavily on low-cost airlines. On the other hand, destinations that offer better financial terms and attract new investment could gain more connections and more tourists.
Rimini is a clear example of this divide. While Ryanair is pulling out of some markets, it is expanding where it believes conditions allow its network to grow sustainably.
