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Over 130 Staff Laid Off at Leipzig/Halle and Dresden Airports as Flight Cuts Loom

Job cuts and potential flight reductions threaten Saxony's airports. Business leaders urge tax relief to maintain competitiveness.

This is airplane.
This is airplane.

Over 130 Staff Laid Off at Leipzig/Halle and Dresden Airports as Flight Cuts Loom

Over 130 ground staff at Leipzig/Halle and Dresden airports have been laid off. This comes amidst concerns about potential flight route reductions, with business and research leaders in Saxony expressing worry about the impact on trade fairs and international connections.

Dr. Fabian Magerl, CEO of IHK Leipzig, has urged for reduced taxes and charges in air traffic to maintain the competitiveness of these aviation locations. The future of specific flight connections hangs in the balance, with Lufthansa set to decide on cuts by the end of October or early November 2025. These cuts, linked to unresolved government tax and fee relief, could affect the summer 2026 schedule.

Saxony's loss-making airports are in need of more passengers and financial support. The signatories demanded the retention of existing flight connections, warning that reduced flights could harm trade fairs, congresses, and the international connections of Saxon industrial and technology clusters.

The decision on flight route reductions depends on further political decisions. The layoffs and potential cuts highlight the need for support to maintain the competitiveness of these airports and protect the region's economic interests.

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