Saxony's airport boss demands: reduce costs for better connections!

Saxony's airport boss demands: reduce costs for better connections!

In the last few weeks, air traffic in Germany has once again made headlines. Dresden Airport is under pressure due to planned cancellations of Lufthansa flights. The managing director of Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG, Ralf Ahmelmann, is calling for a comprehensive reform of the competitive conditions in order to secure Dresden's future connections. His appeal is aimed directly at the federal government to reduce the high levies and taxes that are unnecessarily burdening location costs in Germany, reports MDR.

Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer and Finance Minister Christian Piwarz are also working with Ahmelmann to find solutions. Ahmelmann criticizes the regulatory hurdles and points out that a federal state cannot permanently absorb the burdens imposed by the federal government. Particularly affected are the air traffic tax, aviation security costs and air traffic control costs, which further limit the competitiveness of Germany as a location.

Location costs and competition in air transport

A new report from the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), prepared by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), sheds light on this problem. It shows that location costs in Germany, which include taxes and fees, rose by a whopping 38% between 2019 and 2024, while the European average is only 26% ( BMDV ). This not only has a negative impact on competitiveness, but also slows down the recovery of German air traffic. By 2024, passenger volumes in this country will only reach 80% of pre-crisis levels, while the EU has almost compensated for the decline.

State Secretary Stefan Schnorr underlines the urgency of good connections for Germany as an export nation. In a market in which more expensive hubs such as Amsterdam and London have bounced back more quickly, German airports are required to take appropriate measures to strengthen the location. The report identifies various ways to relieve the burden on the industry, including abolishing the air traffic tax for intra-European flights, which alone could bring up to 5.1 million additional passengers.

Factors of slow recovery

The analysis of location costs has also highlighted other factors that are contributing to the slow recovery of air traffic. The decline in business travel, a growing interest in rail travel and geopolitical tensions such as the crisis in Ukraine have constrained the market. The low level of competition on the domestic German market, especially after the departure of Air Berlin, also represents an obstacle. A shortage of skilled workers and delayed aircraft deliveries further contribute to the industry's challenges ( DLR ).

Overall, it is clear that both politicians and the aviation industry must take rapid measures to improve competitive conditions and get air traffic in Germany back on track. Reduced bureaucracy, efficient cost structures and an attractive environment for new market participants are essential. Without comprehensive reform, it could be difficult to strengthen the wings of German air transport and meet the urgent requirements of the future.