Ryanair is to shut its Berlin operating base and cut its winter schedule to the German capital in half, blaming its decision on 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.

Staff at the facility are being offered transfers to other European bases.

Eddie Wilson, chief executive of the airline’s main operating company, Ryanair DAC, said: “German aviation is broken.…