Taxi driving in Berlin will soon be significantly more expensive.

Three years after the last tariff increase, the state government plans to raise prices by an average of 20 percent before Christmas, as the Senate Department for Transport announced on Friday.

This also applies to the airport tariff for the capital's BER airport in Schönefeld, which was only changed in May of this year.

The “Berliner Zeitung” had previously reported.

"In this way we create good prospects for Berlin's taxi drivers, who have to cope with high costs due to inflation and the energy crisis," said Transport Senator Bettina Jarasch (Greens) of the German Press Agency.

According to the Senate's plans, the basic fee for all taxi rides except for short distances is to increase from the current EUR 3.90 to EUR 4.30.

In the case of regular journeys, 2.30 euros have been charged for the first seven kilometers, from then on each kilometer costs 1.65 euros.

From now on, the first three kilometers will each cost 2.80 euros, the next four each 2.60 euros and from then on each kilometer will cost 2.10 euros.

In the future, the higher basic fee will also apply to journeys to and from the airport in Berlin and Brandenburg.

The first five kilometers are each 40 cents more expensive and then cost 2.60 euros.

From kilometer five, 2.00 euros per kilometer are charged instead of the previous 1.75 euros.

The flat rate for short trips of up to two kilometers remains unchanged.

Passengers continue to pay six euros per trip.

The traffic administration wants to present the plans to the Senate next week.

After a corresponding decision, they could come into force on December 20 of this year.