Dresden is struggling: Airport in crisis – what now for the future?

Dresden is struggling: Airport in crisis – what now for the future?

The situation at Dresden Airport is becoming increasingly tense. After passenger numbers fell by 5.1% in 2023, the future of the airport looks more than uncertain. In comparison, Leipzig/Halle Airport recorded an increase of 4.7% to around 2.2 million passengers. This comes from a report by thuringia24 out.

In the current summer flight schedule, Leipzig/Halle is ahead and, with 29 destinations in 13 countries, serves significantly more destinations than Dresden, which only offers 14 destinations in 7 countries. The CEO of Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG (MFAG), Götz Ahmelmann, emphasizes the need for smart investments in Dresden. At the same time, however, cuts are being announced: around 250 administrative positions are to be cut by 2026, while Saxony-Anhalt plans to withdraw from financial support for the airport from 2027.

Financial challenges in Dresden

Saxony-Anhalt's financial withdrawal could have a massive impact on the airport. Finance Minister Michael Richter (CDU) has made it clear that the country is no longer prepared to bear losses. In this tense situation, the city of Dresden, as a co-shareholder, is more responsible than ever. The Free State of Saxony, on the other hand, has pledged support of 100 million euros until 2026.

The dismal decline in passenger numbers is not the only factor. If you look at the transport connections within Germany, they are around 50% below the level before the corona pandemic. A rethink is required, as Thomas Löser from the Greens criticizes. He advocates an alternative use of the site, such as for conferences or business.

A look at the Central German airports

Looking at Central German airports overall, there was a slight increase in passengers of 1.7% in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to reports aerointernational.de. For Leipzig/Halle Airport, it is clear that the popularity of travel destinations such as Turkey, Spain and Egypt remains unbroken. In contrast, Dresden continues to see a decline in passenger numbers and fails to break the 1 million mark, with only 882,424 passengers flying last year.

However, the traffic figures are not just limited to passenger traffic. The air freight volume at Leipzig/Halle Airport remains stable at around 1.4 million tonnes, positioning itself as the largest DHL hub in the world and the fifth largest air freight center in Europe.

An important aspect of the current situation is that the recovery rate in Germany, compared to pre-pandemic levels, is not yet convincing. In May 2025, passenger volumes at German airports increased by only 1.0% compared to the previous year and totaled 84.2%. This suggests that Germany is struggling internationally with a negative recovery rate in air traffic adv.aero determines.

Will 2027 be the turning point for Dresden? The pressure is growing on those responsible to develop viable concepts to prevent Dresden from drifting away from international aviation.