Dresden Airport in crisis: increasing concerns about the future!

Dresden Airport in crisis: increasing concerns about the future!

There are clear differences in Germany's aviation landscape. The mood at Dresden Airport is currently anything but positive. According to the latest developments, the Saxon metropolis is faced with a significant decline in passengers. thueringen24.de reports that passenger numbers fell by a full 5.1% in 2023. In contrast, Leipzig/Halle Airport can look forward to an increase of 4.7%. A clear sign of the different priorities between the two airports.

Last week, on the first holiday weekend, around 24,500 travelers were expected in Leipzig/Halle, while Dresden was languishing. With only 14 destinations in seven countries, the flight offerings in Dresden are quite sparse in the summer timetable, while Leipzig serves at least 29 destinations in 13 countries.

Financial worries and future prospects

The uncertainty surrounding the future of Dresden Airport is heightened by Saxony-Anhalt's plans to withdraw from financial support for the facility from 2027. Finance Minister Michael Richter (CDU) made it clear that Saxony-Anhalt no longer wanted to cover the airport's losses. This sudden decision could further exacerbate the existing financial gap of 145 million euros, which was closed through loans and grants.

While Saxony-Anhalt is pulling the ripcord, the Free State of Saxony plans to provide at least 100 million euros for the airport by 2026. As the discussions about alternative uses for the site show – be it for conferences or businesses – this leaves many questions. Thomas Löser from the Greens calls for a rethink and sees the constant subsidies as problematic. The MFAG board chairman Götz Ahmelmann, on the other hand, is optimistic and still sees prospects for the airport.

Passenger numbers in comparison

Overall, the situation has not improved in 2024 either. According to aerointernational.de, central German airports recorded a 1.7% increase in passengers, but the decline for Dresden Airport was worrying over the same period, with only 882,424 passengers.

• Flughafen Leipzig/Halle: 2,2 Millionen Passagiere (+4,7 %)
• Flughafen Dresden: 882.424 Passagiere (-5,1 %)

What is particularly noticeable is that domestic German traffic at Dresden Airport is still around 50% below the level before the corona pandemic. This worries not only those responsible, but also travelers who are hoping for an attractive and reliable flight offer.

In the area of ​​air freight, however, Leipzig/Halle can report positive news. The volume remains stable at around 1.4 million tonnes and the airport is considered the largest DHL hub in the world. As clear as the difference between the two airports is, the challenge facing Dresden is also clear: only with a viable concept can the decoupling from international aviation be prevented.

Whether the future of Dresden Airport will be brighter depends on the coming years and political decisions. We will be watching with interest to see how the situation develops until 2027.