District council in turmoil: Can Heringsdorf Airport get 500,000 euros?

District council in turmoil: Can Heringsdorf Airport get 500,000 euros?

There is currently a heated discussion in Pasewalk about the future of Heringsdorf Airport. The district council members are faced with a crucial question: Should the district be prepared to provide up to 500,000 euros for financial support? Without these subsidies, things look bleak for the airport, which received around 22,000 passengers last year and flies to Kassel, Mannheim and Zurich, among others, this season. According to the reports of Baltic Sea newspaper The airport could be of great importance for tourism and the economy of the region.

Debate about grants

The deputy district administrator Jörg Hasselmann emphasizes the need for legal protection for the possible subsidies, while the audit office criticizes the basis of the previous support. Michael Galander from the non-party mayors even questions the usefulness of the operation. “Does the region really need this airport?” he asks the group. The Greens under Ulrike Berger also criticize the administrative priorities and argue that local public transport would be more beneficial for citizens.

On the other hand, Jeanette von Busse from the CDU defends the airport as a unique feature of the region. She spoke in favor of the motion for financial support, which was only approved with 36 votes in favour, 19 against and 6 abstentions.

Future prospects

Another important aspect is the potential commitment of Polish entrepreneurs. Northern Courier reports that some Polish companies have already expressed interest in investing financially in the airport. As imperial as the willows and bouquet flowers, plans for a new cooperation seem to be blossoming after previous talks stalled during the PiS government and the corona pandemic. This cooperation could not only stabilize passenger numbers, but also offer the prospect of new flight connections to Warsaw or Kraków.

And what do the numbers say? Last year there were exactly 19,532 passengers - a significant decrease compared to before the pandemic. According to information from the Western Pomerania Regional Planning Association, these considerations are part of a larger approach to developing the transport infrastructure on the island of Usedom.

Conclusion

The discussion surrounding Heringsdorf Airport is not just a question of finances, but also raises larger questions about the future of tourism and the transport structure in the region. While the district council members are trying to find a common denominator, it remains to be seen whether the desired cooperation with Polish investors will take concrete form and what that will mean for passenger numbers at the small but beautiful airport. The coming months will show whether, with a little skill and targeted investments, the airport can not only be maintained, but even strengthened.