A significant development for regional aviation in North Rhine-Westphalia has been announced: The Danish airline DAT and the German crane airline Lufthansa have concluded an interline agreement for flights between Paderborn/Lippstadt and Munich.
Starting September 1, 2025, travelers to and from Paderborn/Lippstadt will be able to seamlessly check their baggage through to destinations worldwide served via the Munich hub. This agreement is the result of intensive efforts by the regional Skyhub PAD initiative and represents a crucial restoration of global connectivity for the East Westphalian region after the direct Lufthansa service to Munich was discontinued at the end of May.
The emergence of an air bridge: From local initiative to global connectivity
The announcement of the interline agreement between DAT and Lufthansa is the culmination of a remarkable effort in the Paderborn/Lippstadt region. At the end of May of this year, the long-standing Lufthansa connection between Paderborn/Lippstadt and Munich, which was important for the economic region, was discontinued. This discontinuation left a noticeable gap in the connection of Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport to the global air transport network, particularly with regard to long-haul flights.
In response to this gap, the Skyhub PAD initiative was founded . Supported by committed entrepreneurs and private individuals from the Paderborn/Lippstadt region, this group set itself the goal of restoring the vital connection to Munich. Their efforts culminated in a partnership with the Danish airline DAT, which will now operate flights on this route on behalf of Skyhub PAD. This is a remarkable example of how regional stakeholders can secure critical infrastructure for their economic region through their own initiative.
Christoph Plass, Chairman of the Advisory Board of Skyhub PAD, expressed his delight at the success: "This means we have achieved all of our goals for commencing flight operations." His colleague Klaus Marx, Managing Director of Skyhub PAD, added that the now concluded interline agreement offers "the best opportunities for Skyhub PAD's business model." This agreement is crucial because it allows passengers to not only fly between Paderborn/Lippstadt and Munich, but also to make a continuous booking with baggage check-through right from the start to their final destination, be it in the USA or Asia. Previously, only the route between Paderborn/Lippstadt and the Bavarian metropolis was available, which made transfer processes significantly more difficult for travelers, especially for international connections.
Flight plan and strategic advantages: Doors to the world open
Starting September 1, 2025, Skyhub PAD will offer up to three daily flights between Paderborn/Lippstadt and Munich. The connections will operate Monday through Friday and Sunday. The flight times are strategically coordinated with onward flight options from Lufthansa's Munich hub:
- From Paderborn/Lippstadt: 7:00 a.m., 13:55 p.m. and 18:30 p.m.
- Arrival in Munich: 8:25 a.m., 15:20 p.m. and 19:55 p.m.
- From Munich: 9:00 a.m., 16:10 p.m. and 20:35 p.m.
According to Skyhub PAD, these flight times ensure accessibility to many connecting flights to the USA and Asia. The early morning and late afternoon connections, in particular, enable efficient connections to Lufthansa's long-haul flights from Munich. For business travelers from the region, this means significant time savings and increased convenience, as they no longer have to travel by train or car to other major airports to catch international flights. The improved connections also offer new prospects for tourism in East Westphalia-Lippe, as the region becomes more accessible for international visitors.
DAT will use an ATR 72-600 for these flights . This modern turboprop aircraft, with 72 seats, offers a suitable capacity for the demand on this regional route. The ATR 72-600 is known for its efficiency on short- and medium-haul routes and its ability to access smaller airports with shorter runways, which is advantageous for Paderborn/Lippstadt.
Importance of interline agreements in aviation
Interline agreements are crucial in the aviation industry, especially for smaller and medium-sized airlines and regional airports. They allow passengers to book flights with multiple airlines on a single ticket and check their baggage through to their final destination, even if transfers to other airlines are necessary. Without such an agreement, travelers would have to recheck their baggage at each transfer and potentially purchase new tickets for onward flights, resulting in significant inconvenience and wasted time.
For Lufthansa, as part of the Star Alliance, interline agreements with regional feeder airlines like DAT are of great strategic importance. They serve to expand the reach of its own route network and transport passengers from regions to which it does not directly serve to its major hubs. This ensures capacity utilization of its long-haul flights and strengthens the position of the Munich hub in the international competition among hubs. For DAT, in turn, the partnership with Lufthansa offers increased passenger volume and greater market visibility.
Restoring connections to an international hub like Munich is of vital importance for Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport. Airports of this size often rely on such feeder flights to ensure their profitability and fulfill their regional mission of providing connections to the world. Such connections are important not only for leisure travelers, but also for the local economy, which relies on good international connections for business travel, exports, and imports.
Regional airports under pressure: A trend and its consequences
The discontinuation of regional routes by major airlines is a trend that has been observed repeatedly in recent years. This is often a result of rationalization measures by airlines, which focus on more profitable main routes and larger aircraft. Smaller routes with lower passenger volumes are then either discontinued or outsourced to smaller, regional airlines that can operate with smaller aircraft and more flexible structures.
This trend poses major challenges for regional airports. Without connections to major hubs, they become less attractive to travelers and businesses. This can have long-term negative effects on the regional economy, as accessibility for investors and tourists suffers. However, the Paderborn/Lippstadt example shows that local initiatives and cooperation with specialized regional airlines can be a successful strategy for overcoming these challenges. The ability to respond flexibly to market changes and enter into innovative partnerships is crucial for the continued existence and development of regional airports.
Ensuring such connections is not only an economic factor, but also a locational factor for the region. Companies in East Westphalia-Lippe often operate globally and require efficient travel options for their employees and customers. The connection to Munich enables them to reach important economic areas in the USA and Asia quickly and conveniently.
A model for other regions?
The success of Skyhub PAD and the interline agreement with Lufthansa could serve as a model for other regions facing similar air transport challenges. It demonstrates that local initiative, coupled with a pragmatic approach and a willingness to collaborate with new partners, can be crucial in securing a region's connectivity. The commitment of the regional economy and population in Paderborn/Lippstadt has proven that there is demand for such connections and that there are ways to meet this demand even under difficult market conditions.
Restoring the continuous connection via Munich not only strengthens Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport, but also the competitiveness of the entire East Westphalia-Lippe region. It is a positive signal at a time when many regional infrastructures are under pressure. However, the long-term stability of this model will depend on continued flight capacity utilization and the attractiveness of connecting flights.