The German aviation industry is at a crossroads: high location costs, an air transport tax that continues to rise, and complex regulations threaten Germany's competitiveness as a central European aviation location.
The airport association ADV (Association of German Airports) is sounding the alarm and calling for urgently needed relief for airlines and airports. Without an immediate course correction, the association says, Germany risks falling further behind in European air traffic.
Germany's position in air transport under pressure
Ralph Beisel, Managing Director of the ADV, sums up the situation: "German airports are still missing 15 percent of travelers compared to the pre-coronavirus period." While air traffic in other European countries is slowly returning to pre-crisis levels, Germany is still struggling with significant declines in passenger numbers. A problem that cannot only be attributed to the pandemic: High taxes and fees are also putting a massive strain on the aviation industry.
A worrying trend can be seen in the current figures from the airport association. In the past five years, German airports have lost a total of 308 routes. In 2023, there were only 2.075 scheduled connections - far fewer than in the years before the pandemic and even fewer than a decade ago. "Germany as an aviation location is being set back a decade by misguided policies," said Beisel. This development not only endangers the range of flight connections, but also international competitiveness.
The international comparison: Germany is losing ground
While countries like Sweden are abolishing their air traffic taxes as part of a well-considered reform policy - the Swedish ticket tax will be abolished without replacement from 2025 - Germany is taking the opposite approach. In this country, air traffic taxes have been increased several times. This additional financial burden affects both airlines and passengers. Airlines like Ryanair, which are known for their low prices, are taking action: They have announced that they will drastically reduce their route network in Germany. This not only affects the freedom of travel and mobility of citizens, but also affects the country's economic development.
European air traffic is closely interlinked, and the decline in flight connections in Germany is also affecting other European markets. But while other countries are taking measures to support and revive their aviation industry, Germany seems trapped in regulations and cost structures that make the location less attractive. The ADV's warning is unequivocal: "Without course corrections, Germany as an aviation location will continue to be passed over."
The demands of the airport association: relief through politics
The ADV's central demand is that Germany must follow the Swedish example and reduce or completely eliminate the air traffic tax and other burdensome levies. This would noticeably ease the burden on airlines and make the location more attractive. Ralph Beisel explains that the industry's problems are not a demand problem - people want to continue to fly, as the figures from other European countries show. Rather, supply is limited by excessive regulations and high costs.
The airport association ADV sees an urgent need for action by the federal government. This involves reducing taxes, promoting investment in airport infrastructure and simplifying the legal framework. This is the only way airlines and airports can become competitive again. Strengthening the aviation location is essential, especially in times when international networking and mobility are seen as economic growth factors. Politicians must finally rethink this and take quick, effective measures to limit the damage and pave the way for an upturn in the industry.
The impact on the German economy
Aviation plays a central role in the German economy. It is not only an important driver of tourism, but also essential for the export economy and international business relations. Fewer flight connections mean less accessibility, and this affects both companies that rely on fast transport routes and the attractiveness of Germany as a location for international investors.
The high taxes and fees that burden aviation are not only leading to a reduction in the route network, but also to rising ticket prices. This has a direct impact on competition: cheap flight offers are becoming rarer, which reduces Germany's price advantage over other European airports. As a result, Germany could increasingly lose importance as a transit country.
Sustainability and costs: a difficult balancing act
There is no question that aviation is facing major challenges, particularly with regard to climate protection. The industry must find ways to reduce CO₂ emissions and promote more environmentally friendly technologies. But these necessary measures must not become the sole burden for airlines and airports, warns the ADV. A unilateral increase in taxes and fees without appropriate funding and support is counterproductive. Rather, political measures must be designed in such a way that they promote the restructuring of the aviation industry towards sustainability without undermining competitiveness.
Time for a political change
The criticism of the airport association ADV is clear: Germany's aviation policy needs a fundamental overhaul. High taxes and fees are a burden on the location and endanger the country's competitiveness in international air traffic. While other countries such as Sweden are abolishing their air traffic tax, Germany is making the environment for airlines and airports more and more complicated.
If Germany is not to continue to lose importance as an aviation location, the federal government must act. Measures to relieve the burden on the industry are urgently needed in order to stabilize the range of flight connections and not further endanger economic development. It is to be hoped that politicians will take the airport association's warnings seriously and take appropriate steps promptly.
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