The days of snatching €9.99 flights from Germany to Barcelona, Rome or London seem to be over.
Recent average flight prices show that air fares are rising significantly this summer, even on Europe’s low-cost airlines. Meanwhile some of these carriers are cutting routes from German airports.
For travellers, the trend is fairly straightforward: you're looking at fewer direct flights, higher prices and a growing need to book well in advance.
According to a new study by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), the average one-way fare without checked luggage now ranges from €81 on Wizz Air to €141 on Eurowings.
Ryanair, long synonymous with mega-cheap travel, charged an average of almost €90, while EasyJet averaged just over €107.
That’s a noticeable jump from last year, when average fares ranged between €67 and €130.
Notably these prices cover only the most basic ticket, which allows passengers to bring just a small personal bag with them. To bring an additional cabin bag, checked luggage or choose your seat are all considered extras that cost more.
The DLR figures back up official inflation data released this week by Germany’s statistical office, which found airfares rose by 8.5 percent in the first half of 2026 compared with a year before.
Flights within Europe, the routes most commonly used for weekend breaks and summer holidays, were up by 11.5 percent.
Why are fares rising?
One of the reason behind the increasing prices is quite simple: Germany still has fewer flights than before the pandemic.
Budget airlines are flying just 82 percent of their pre-Covid schedules in Germany, according to aviation association BDL, while low-cost capacity elsewhere in Europe has grown by more than 30 percent over the same period.
The difference also comes down to increased costs. Airline CEOs and spokespeople have repeatedly pointed out that Germany’s aviation tax and airport charges make it one of the most expensive countries in Europe to operate from.
The federal government did recently cut the air travel tax, by €2.50 to €11.40 per passenger on flights, but carriers say security charges, air traffic control fees and other airport costs remain among the highest in Europe.
READ ALSO: Will passengers really benefit after Germany cut its air travel tax?
Rather than absorbing those costs, airlines are increasingly moving aircraft to countries where flying is cheaper.
Earlier this year, Ryanair confirmed that it will close its Berlin base from the winter 2026 schedule, relocating its remaining aircraft to other European airports.
Lufthansa has also removed tens of thousands of flights following the closure of its regional subsidiary CityLine and has already warned of further cuts next year.
READ ALSO: Eurowings to take over routes from Berlin as Ryanair pulls out
What does this mean for passengers?
For air travellers in Germany flights are getting more expensive as fewer seats mean airlines have less incentive to compete on price. Last-minute bargains are becoming harder to find, especially during school holidays and on the popular routes in Europe.
The DLR study found tickets booked one day before departure averaged between €118 and €201 depending on the airline and that booking three months in advance would generally secure a better chance at the cheapest fare.
There are still be occasional bargains, of course; such as a €15 Ryanair ticket from Karlsruhe to London available the day before departure that researchers found, but these are increasingly rare.
For passengers living near Germany’s borders, the widening price gap could also make airports in neighbouring countries more attractive.
READ ALSO: REVEALED - The best value summer holiday destinations from Germany
Airports in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Poland and the Czech Republic may have a wider choice of low-cost routes.
The bottom line here is travellers are unlikely to see a return to the €10 flights era any time soon.
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