Over the past two decades, discount airlines Ryanair Holdings Plc and EasyJet Plc have followed the same playbook in Germany that they've used across Europe: From smaller regional airports such as Memmingen in Bavaria and Luebeck on the Baltic coast, they grabbed market share with ultralow fares that appealed to tightfisted travelers undaunted by their no-frills offerings. Over time they expanded to Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich, increasingly treading on the turf of the German flag carrier, Deutsche Lufthansa AG.
These days the upstarts are on the defensive as Lufthansa punches back. EasyJet quit the popular Frankfurt-Berlin route in 2020, and this year Ryanair abandoned Frankfurt altogether, saying the sky-high landing and terminal fees at Germany's biggest airport-operated by a company partly owned by Lufthansa-rendered service there unprofitable.
Post-pandemic, Ryanair's seat capacity in Germany has fallen by almost half, whereas in Italy it's up 40%, according to researcher Cirium. EasyJet has cut its Berlin-based fleet by more than two-thirds, to 11 aircraft, while in Lisbon it's added nine jets, up from zero.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Instagram's Founders Say It's Time for a New Social App
The rise of AI and the fall of Twitter could create opportunities for upstarts
Running in Circles
A subscription running shoe program aims to fight footwear waste
What I Learned Working at a Hawaiien Mega-Resort
Nine wild secrets from the staff at Turtle Bay, who have to manage everyone from haughty honeymooners to go-go-dancing golfers.
How Noma Will Blossom In Kyoto
The best restaurant in the world just began its second pop-up in Japan. Here's what's cooking
The Last-Mover Problem
A startup called Sennder is trying to bring an extremely tech-resistant industry into the age of apps
Tick Tock, TikTok
The US thinks the Chinese-owned social media app is a major national security risk. TikTok is running out of ways to avoid a ban
Cleaner Clothing Dye, Made From Bacteria
A UK company produces colors with less water than conventional methods and no toxic chemicals
Pumping Heat in Hamburg
The German port city plans to store hot water underground and bring it up to heat homes in the winter
Sustainability: Calamari's Climate Edge
Squid's ability to flourish in warmer waters makes it fitting for a diet for the changing environment
New Money, New Problems
In Naples, an influx of wealthy is displacing out-of-towners lower-income workers