Multiple airlines cancel flights to tourist hot spot over high fees

Travelers want as many choices as possible regarding which airline to fly when they are planning their vacation. Unfortunately, those headed to one specific tourist hot spot will now find far fewer options.

That’s because multiple airlines have now moved to cancel flights to this location. They've done this because of the large fees that are being charged to airlines that want to fly into airports in the region.

Here’s what you need to know about the airlines that have canceled, and about the reasons for the cost concerns.

Multiple airlines cancel their flights to this prime destination

The country being abandoned by airlines is facing this change at an unfortunate time, as the destination has become increasingly popular in recent years. 

The country is Germany, and according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, it made history in 2025 because “every major performance indicator” was set to reach new heights over the course of the year.

Related: American Airlines cancels flight permanently, offers refunds

The World Travel and Tourism Council reported that:

• International visitor spending in 2025 climbed to the highest level of inbound spending ever recorded in the country, with visitors spending an “unprecedented €57BN.”
• The travel sector’s contribution was equivalent to around 11.6% of the country’s GDP.
• Jobs supported by travel and tourism hit a record 6.5 million and accounted for 14% of national employment.
• Domestic visitors' 2025 spending also hit an all-time high at €425BN.

Unfortunately, even as Germany is becoming a more popular vacation spot, several airlines have said they are pulling flights. 

These airlines are canceling flights to Germany

Airlines that are canceling flight routes to Germany include Lufthansa and Ryanair. 

MeinBavaria, an independent digital media platform founded in Munich, reported that Germany's largest airline, Lufthansa, would “significantly” reduce its domestic flight network and cut as many as 100 weekly connections in Germany. 

Related: Delta Air Lines permanently cancels daily flights starting in November

Ryanair Airlines also announced big cuts in Germany, with the discount airline indicating plans to reduce its flight capacity in the winter by more than 800,000 seats.

This included canceling 24 different routes in nine different German airports. Ryanair Airlines said it will cancel flights, or opt out of resuming already-canceled flights, to:

• Berlin
• Hamburg 
• Memmingen
• Dortmund
• Dresden
• Leipzig

This will leave travelers with five fewer options, as the airline stated these reductions would result in Ryanair’s overall capacity in Germany falling below winter 2024 levels.

High fees are the problem causing the flight cancellations

Airlines have chosen to pull out of Germany as a direct result of high airport fees. 

As Ryanair Airlines explained in a statement:

“This decision is a direct result of the Federal Govt’s repeated failure to address Germany’s high access costs and the disappointing roll-back on their commitment to reverse the latest +24% aviation tax increase introduced in May ’24. This punitive aviation tax, coupled with Germany’s soaring ATC charges, excessive Security Fees, and rising airport costs have made Germany grossly uncompetitive compared to other EU countries.”

Lufthansa’s CEO Carsten Spohr also explained that high costs were the reason for the elimination of flights. “Without a reduction in location costs, further cuts will be unavoidable,” MeinBavaria reported the CEO said in an interview with WELT am Sonntag.

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Travel and Tour World confirms a substantial increase in fees charged by airports throughout Germany: “The German Aviation Association (BDL) has stated that such high location costs are creating an unsustainable financial environment for airlines, especially in a time when airlines are already under pressure from other economic challenges.”

Unfortunately, travelers will pay the price, as the reduction in competition among airlines, combined with the fact that German airports are expensive, means ticket prices are likely to be very high for those who want to visit the country. 

Related: Major US airline cancels flights to dozens of cities in 2026