German aviation in the crisis: high taxes brake passengers!

German aviation in the crisis: high taxes brake passengers!

What's in German aviation? The industry associations, especially the Federal Association of German Air Traffic Economics (BDL), are currently in the starting blocks. They raise the alarm because of the high taxes that are in Germany compared to other European countries. Joachim Lang, the general manager of the BDL, sees taxes as a clear competitive disadvantage and warns that these political framework conditions affect growth and recovery of the sector. In fact, the number of passengers in Germany is increasing more slowly than in many other countries, while the high location costs are already about a third of the ticket price, such as [Br.de] (https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/wenig-passagiere- germany-lag-lagt-ueber-ueber-steuer.uo56ile).

In 2024, the number of passengers in Germany only reached 85 percent of the level in 2019. This represents a worrying sign, as there are only a few countries that do worse here - such as Finland, Slovenia and Sweden. The reason for this is both economic and structural problems, including the war in Ukraine and an increased ticket price policy that has increased by 27 percent.

High location costs affect competitiveness

A study by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), which was created on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (BMDV), reveals further unmatch. Between 2019 and 2024, location costs in Germany rose by a whopping 38 percent - while the European average was only 26 percent. High taxes, fees and airport fees drive the costs and put the airlines under pressure, such as [dlr.de] (https://www.dlr.de/de/aktuelles/2025/dlr-erstudie-zu-bosten-im- air traffic) analyzed.

These costs have a particularly impact on inner -German flights that become unattractive for Airlines, since the air traffic tax has to be paid twice. Cheap airlines such as Ryanair or Easyjet, on the other hand, manage to make their business more efficiently outside of Germany by stationing their aircraft in less tax -controlled countries.

rising number of passengers - but how?

Last year the Nuremberg Airport recorded around 4 million passengers, and an increase is expected to around 4.4 million for 2023. Despite the lack of business travelers, you can see strong tourism, especially in the Mediterranean, which contributes to the positive balance. The concept of a stable price policy and the mix of low-cost airlines and network airlines are viewed as keys to stability. But all of this is on the brink if the high location costs are not reduced. Airport operators hope to reduce these loads to increase competitiveness. The airport itself also relies on real estate rental to diversify sources of income.

According to the DLR study, the slow recovery in air traffic in Germany can not only be attributed to high costs. Geopolitical factors, such as the decline in business trips and the changed travel habits in favor of the railway, also play a role. [Bmv.de] (https://www.bmv.de/shahareddocs/de/pressemitteilungen/2025/018-schnorr-studie-site costs-ufml) shows that about 18 percent of the recovery that has not been achieved can be attributed to these factors.

A suggestion that could provide a fresh wind would be the abolition of air traffic tax for internal European flights. According to expert estimates, this could lead to an increase in passenger numbers of up to five million and thus boost German air traffic again. The further measures to strengthen competitiveness include efficiency increases in air traffic control, promoting new airlines and better intermodal integration.

Overall, the five million additional passengers can prove to be a bright spot, while Germany continues to move in a competitive environment that suffers from high location costs and geopolitical uncertainties. It remains to be seen whether the industry has a good knack for the necessary reforms in order to make a profit from this hearty imbalance.