Leipzig/Halle Airport has suffered another setback: From December 22, 2024, the airline Eurowings will discontinue its domestic German connection from Leipzig/Halle to Düsseldorf. According to a company spokesperson, the reason for this decision is the "deteriorating economic conditions" for flying in Germany. The discontinuation of this connection means a further loss of direct flights for Leipzig/Halle Airport, which could further exacerbate the already challenging situation in the region.
Eurowings' decision to discontinue the route from Leipzig to Düsseldorf was justified by the airline with the ongoing difficult economic situation in the German aviation market. According to Eurowings, one of the main reasons for the cancellation of this domestic German connection is the "massive government increase in the cost of flying". In particular, the increase in the air traffic tax, which was decided in 2023, has led to a significant increase in operating costs. The Lufthansa subsidiary Eurowings stated that the government site costs for the departure of an Airbus A320 from Leipzig had more than doubled compared to 2019. These additional costs were no longer sustainable for the airline, which led to a reassessment of the route network. The connection from Leipzig/Halle to Düsseldorf is therefore no longer economically viable, according to the official statement.
However, the cancellation of the route is not the only burden that Leipzig/Halle Airport is currently having to endure. In November 2024, Lufthansa announced that it would be removing the connection from Leipzig to Munich from its program from summer 2025. The loss of direct connections, especially to important German transport hubs such as Düsseldorf and Munich, means not only a reduction in flight frequencies for Leipzig/Halle Airport, but also a potential impact on the entire regional air transport market.
Impact on the airport and the region
For Leipzig/Halle Airport, the cancellation of the connection to Düsseldorf represents a further setback in an already difficult phase. The airport has had to contend with various challenges in recent years, including the steady decline in passenger numbers and the increasingly difficult economic conditions in air traffic. The reduction in the number of routes is likely to not only weaken the airport's importance as a transport hub, but also affect the regional economic structure.
Numerous companies in the region rely on well-developed air transport connections. Direct flights to important German and international destinations are of considerable value, especially for business travelers. Eurowings' decision to cancel an established connection could make accessibility more difficult for business travelers and tourists alike and potentially lead to a decline in demand for other connections.
In addition, Eurowings' decision also has an impact on the competitiveness of Leipzig/Halle Airport. The airport, which has been striving to gain a stronger market position in recent years, now has to accept another loss. It is particularly regrettable that the route to Düsseldorf was not only important for business travelers, but also for tourists who were looking for a quick connection to the western German metropolis. By closing this connection, Leipzig/Halle Airport is losing an important connection to the western part of Germany.
Background to the economic difficulties in air transport
The difficulties that Eurowings and other airlines are currently facing are not limited to the German market. The entire European aviation market is facing significant challenges due to a variety of factors. In addition to rising taxes and duties, these include higher fuel prices and cost increases due to inflation rates in recent years. In addition, geopolitical uncertainties and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to pose a risk to air traffic.
In particular, the increase in the air transport tax, which came into force in Germany on January 1, 2023, has placed a significant burden on many airlines. This tax increase, which amounts to 50 percent, was decided as a response to the growing climate protection requirements in the European context, but also has a negative impact on the airlines affected, which are now forced to adapt their business models. Combined with the already difficult market conditions, this led to Eurowings' decision to remove the route from Leipzig/Halle to Düsseldorf from its program.
The perspective for Leipzig/Halle Airport
For Leipzig/Halle Airport, the cancellation of the connection to Düsseldorf is another setback, but it is not the end of the story. The airport will continue to play a central role for the region, especially with regard to freight traffic, which forms a significant part of the airport's business model. Nevertheless, it will be crucial for the airport in the coming years to develop new connections and partnerships to compensate for the loss of routes and to secure the airport's importance as a transport hub.
Local economic development agencies and tourism officials will be required to work harder to maintain and expand flight connections in order to maintain the economic attractiveness of the region. Cooperation with other airports and airlines could also be an important step in closing the gaps in the route network and positioning the airport as an important transport hub in Germany.
Eurowings' decision to cancel the connection from Leipzig/Halle to Düsseldorf represents a further setback for the airport, which could not only affect regional air transport connections, but also the economic dynamism of the region. The rising costs of air transport, particularly due to the increase in air transport tax, have massively affected the profitability of individual routes. The airline could no longer operate the route profitably, which led to the difficult decision. Leipzig/Halle Airport must now develop further strategies to maintain the airport's importance as an important transport hub and to cushion the economic impact of the route cancellation.
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