Ryanair cuts Frankfurt flights by 30%

Frankfurt Hahn airport became the latest destination to suffer from Ryanair's tight control of costs today when the budget airline announced a 30% reduction in flights. Europe's largest short-haul carrier said the German government's new €8 (£7) flight tax, levied on domestic and short-haul flights, had forced it to reduce its Hahn-based fleet of aircraft from 11 planes to eight from next summer. Ryanair said the move would affect 1,000 jobs at the airport including 150 pilot and cabin crew posts. Manchester and Stansted are among the British airports to have fallen foul of Ryanair's tough stance on landing fees and taxes in recent years. Michael Cawley, Ryanair's deputy chief executive, said: "The German government's €8 tourist tax will do significant damage to traffic and tourism in Germany next year."