Ryanair to shut Berlin base as it blames rise in German aviation tax

Trade union criticises airline's plan to halve passenger numbers to the city as purely profit-oriented'

Ryanair is to shut its Berlin operating base and cut its winter schedule to the German capital in half, blaming soaring aviation taxes in the country.

The Irish budget carrier said its relocation of seven aircraft to other centres would reduce its Berlin passenger numbers from 4.5 million to 2.2 million a year, with flights in and out of the city served from October by planes based at other airports.