Why air passengers in Germany face fewer flight options in future

The CEO of Lufthansa has warned that high costs and taxes in Germany are causing airlines to cut flights to the country’s major airports. Which airlines are cutting flights and what does it mean for passengers?

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Citing high airport fees, more and more airlines are cutting flights to German cities or rerouting them elsewhere.
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr told Bild am Sonntag on Sunday that an “extreme increase in taxes is leading to a shrinking supply of flights [in Germany].
“More and more airlines are avoiding German airports or cancelling important connections.”

Which airlines have announced flight cuts in Germany?
Spohr’s comment comes as Lufthansa subsidiary Eurowings plans to cut a large number of flights. 
Eurowings, which is Germany’s second largest airline after Lufthansa, currently plans to re-route more than 1,000 individual flights to and from Hamburg – flying them to other locations in Europe and Germany instead.
Ryanair had announced plans to cancel numerous flight connections in Germany in August, citing excessive fees.
British Airways and EasyJet have also recently cut some German connections, citing reduced demand and higher costs.
READ ALSO: ‘Germany lacks a sensible airline policy’ – Is budget air travel on the decline?
Airline industry leaders warn that more and more airlines may be forced to follow suit if taxes and airport fees in Germany aren’t reduced.
For passengers, flight cuts are expected to result in fewer options and higher ticket prices, especially on popular routes that have seen flight reductions.
Why are airlines dodging Germany?
For months, the aviation industry has been complaining about high operating costs that are specific to Germany, such as flight fees and the air traffic tax, which was increased in May. Airlines also pay fees for security checks and air traffic control.

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In April, a representative from EasyJet told The Local that, “Berlin is among the most expensive airports [they] operate from.” 
They added, “Airport costs represent about 20 percent of EasyJet’s operating costs and are the second largest cost after fuel.”
Germany’s airport association (ADV) is calling on the federal government to take action to strengthen air traffic. 
“The development of Germany as an aviation location is below the level of 2013,” ADV Managing Director Ralph Beisel told DPA. “We are no longer competitive.” 
The tourism spokeswoman of the CDU/CSU, Anja Karliczek, agrees.
“The government’s actions, especially in recent years, have overstepped the mark,” she told DPA, and suggested a withdrawal of the last increase in aviation tax. 

Extinction Rebellion activists on a tarmac at Stuttgart Airport. Climate activists have targeted German airports, saying subsidies for aviation exacerbates climate change and threatens their future. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Marius Bulling
Should flights be more expensive?
International flights in Europe are often cheaper than equivalent train journeys, which is the result of big subsidies on climate harming fossil fuels.
According to Investigate Europe, German taxpayers doled out €12.5 billion in 2020 in support for the aviation sector.
While some airlines are rerouting connections away from German cities, they certainly can’t afford to avoid Germany altogether.
According to Statista, Germany had the second most air passengers in Europe in 2023, after Spain.

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Citing high airport fees, more and more airlines are cutting flights to German cities or rerouting them elsewhere.
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr told Bild am Sonntag on Sunday that an “extreme increase in taxes is leading to a shrinking supply of flights [in Germany].
“More and more airlines are avoiding German airports or cancelling important connections.”
Which airlines have announced flight cuts in Germany?
Spohr’s comment comes as Lufthansa subsidiary Eurowings plans to cut a large number of flights. 
Eurowings, which is Germany’s second largest airline after Lufthansa, currently plans to re-route more than 1,000 individual flights to and from Hamburg – flying them to other locations in Europe and Germany instead.
Ryanair had announced plans to cancel numerous flight connections in Germany in August, citing excessive fees.
British Airways and EasyJet have also recently cut some German connections, citing reduced demand and higher costs.
READ ALSO: ‘Germany lacks a sensible airline policy’ – Is budget air travel on the decline?
Airline industry leaders warn that more and more airlines may be forced to follow suit if taxes and airport fees in Germany aren’t reduced.
For passengers, flight cuts are expected to result in fewer options and higher ticket prices, especially on popular routes that have seen flight reductions.
Why are airlines dodging Germany?
For months, the aviation industry has been complaining about high operating costs that are specific to Germany, such as flight fees and the air traffic tax, which was increased in May. Airlines also pay fees for security checks and air traffic control.
In April, a representative from EasyJet told The Local that, “Berlin is among the most expensive airports [they] operate from.” 
They added, “Airport costs represent about 20 percent of EasyJet’s operating costs and are the second largest cost after fuel.”
Germany’s airport association (ADV) is calling on the federal government to take action to strengthen air traffic. 
“The development of Germany as an aviation location is below the level of 2013,” ADV Managing Director Ralph Beisel told DPA. “We are no longer competitive.” 
The tourism spokeswoman of the CDU/CSU, Anja Karliczek, agrees.
“The government’s actions, especially in recent years, have overstepped the mark,” she told DPA, and suggested a withdrawal of the last increase in aviation tax. 

Should flights be more expensive?
International flights in Europe are often cheaper than equivalent train journeys, which is the result of big subsidies on climate harming fossil fuels.
According to Investigate Europe, German taxpayers doled out €12.5 billion in 2020 in support for the aviation sector.
While some airlines are rerouting connections away from German cities, they certainly can’t afford to avoid Germany altogether.
According to Statista, Germany had the second most air passengers in Europe in 2023, after Spain.