Tax and fees
Air traffic: state makes tickets even more expensive
Flying remains more expensive in Germany than in most European countries. Airports and airlines betting against further loads that would have to pay passengers in the end.
The German air traffic industry has warned of other state burdens that become even more expensive in Germany. According to calculations by the BDL industry association, another 1.2 billion euros from taxes and state fees for the existing tax load of 3.3 billion euros are added in the current year. At the start of a German airport, state -consumed costs of 30 euros would be due per ticket. Of course, the airlines would have to pass this on to the passengers, says BDL President Jens Bischof.
The Eurowings boss appeals to the future federal government to reduce location costs for airlines and airports. For new growth, the air traffic tax increased last year must be deleted and the national admixture rate for e-kerosine planned from 2026 must be dispensed with from 2026.
Fewer domestic flights and direct connections
“In 2025 alone, the increase in air traffic tax, rising flight control fees due to corona balancing loads, high costs for security checks and the mandatory use of sustainable fuel are available to the industry,” explains Bishop. In the previous year, state location costs of around 3.3 billion euros were already incurred in German air traffic.
The industry sees the high state burdens as the main reason for the weak relaxation and dwindling connectivity of air traffic in Germany in a European comparison. Especially domestic flights and direct connections to so-called low-cost airlines have not recovered as in most other countries in Europe after the end of the Corona crisis.
Germans fly after
The entire range of air traffic at German airports was 86 percent of the pre-corona level last year compared to 104 percent in the rest of Europe. In the coming summer, the ratio will be 91 to 109 percent. “In Europe, flew more than ever before – just not from Germany,” emphasizes Bischof.
Foreign airlines avoided the German market, while the domestic providers tightened their offer. Lufthansa provides a current example on the largest German airport in Frankfurt. 3.9 million travelers were handled there in January. The decline of 3.1 percent compared to the same period last year, the operator Fraport attributes the lower offer of the main customer Lufthansa.
dpa
Source: Stern
