The Federal Ministry of Transport has responded to a proposal by the low-cost airline Ryanair, which had requested changes to night flight bans from the German federal government. A ministry spokesperson stated on Monday that Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, is likely aware that night flight bans are under the jurisdiction of the German states.
Ryanair had previously called on its passengers to contact Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing to express their dissatisfaction, after several flights, which were supposed to land at Berlin’s airport just after midnight due to delays, were diverted to Hanover instead. In one instance, the start of the night flight ban was missed by just 90 seconds and passengers eventually arrived in Berlin hours later by bus.
The company described the situation as a “scandal” and urged Wissing to take immediate action to resolve the issue at Berlin’s airport in the interest of passengers who simply want to travel from point A to point B.
Ryanair has been in a dispute with the federal government for months, with little indication that the government is aware of the issue. Government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit was unable to recall a meeting with Ryanair representatives at the Chancellery when asked by the news agency.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary had previously told the aviation magazine “Airliners” that he had met with the Chancellor’s office in Berlin at the beginning of last year to discuss a reduction in air traffic tax and a cap on air security fees, but was unsuccessful. “You have to imagine this: We were at the Chancellor’s office, promising a doubling of passengers by 2030, 30 more aircraft stationed in Germany and an investment of three billion euros in the country. But this incompetent government didn’t understand it” O’Leary said.