On March 1, 2025, the airline FLN Frisia-Luftverkehr will discontinue the connection between Norddeich and the East Frisian island of Juist. This means that the island can only be reached by ferry, speedboat or water taxi. The company cites the sharp drop in passenger numbers as the reason: while around 2018 passengers used the route in 54.000, this figure was only 2024 in 26.000. FLN had already reduced the service last summer.
The decision also has an impact on the workforce. According to FLN managing director Olaf Weddermann, the affected employees were offered alternative employment at the Norddeich and Harlesiel airfields. The Norddeich airfield will remain in operation, primarily for helicopter flights and test operations with drones for freight transport.
For locals and holidaymakers, the suspension of flight operations means a longer journey time. While the flight only took around five minutes, the regular ferry connection takes around 90 minutes. Speedboats and water taxis offer an alternative, but are weather dependent and usually more expensive.
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