Ryanair (FR, Dublin International) has announced it would close its bases at Bremen Hans Koschnick in Germany and Eindhoven in the Netherlands on November 5, 2018. The Irish LCC said that the closure would not have a significant impact on the routes served as they will be taken over by aircraft based at other airports.

Currently, the Irish carrier bases two aircraft out of Bremen and four out of Eindhoven.

The German labour unions Ver.di and Vereinigung Cockpit criticised the move, alleging that it was a retaliation against a recent wave of strikes in Germany, Neue Rheinische Zeitung has reported. Eindhovens Dagblad also wrote about similar concerns coming from the Dutch unions.

The LCC will also reduce the number of B737-800s it bases out of Düsseldorf Weeze from the current four to three. According to earlier plans, the base was set to grow to five Boeing narrowbodies in the Winter 2018/19 season.

According to the ch-aviation capacity module, Ryanair has a 29.3% market share by capacity in Bremen and 43.7% market share by capacity in Eindhoven and is the market leader by capacity at each of the airports.