State laments high costs allegedly imposed by authorities, according to BDL
The Federal Association of German Air Traffic (BDL) has expressed concerns about excessively high state-induced costs, which have led to a near standstill in the recovery of air traffic in Germany.
In the first half of 2025, the number of passengers at German airports dropped by 15.8% compared to 2019 levels, with a total of 99.4 million passengers. This represents a significant decrease from the 190 aircraft based in Germany in 2019, which has now dropped to 130 in 2025, resulting in the loss of around 10,000 jobs and €4 billion in economic value added.
The BDL did not specify the reasons for the high state-induced costs, but it is believed that the air traffic tax, air traffic control fees, and security charges have more than doubled since 2019. These costs have made Germany less attractive for airlines, causing them to increasingly avoid the country and divert flights to cheaper neighboring countries like Liège, Amsterdam, or Maastricht.
The lack of competitive cost conditions and political inaction have resulted in a diminished connectivity, hampered mobility, and air freight transport, as well as industrial slowdowns. Many domestic regional connections have been eliminated, severely restricting mobility within Germany.
The aviation industry and BDL urge the federal government to prioritize crisis resolution by reducing the cost burden, particularly by repealing the air transport tax increase. Such a move would incentivize airlines to restore and grow their presence in Germany, boost exports, create jobs, and fill tax coffers.
In contrast, other European countries are experiencing significant growth, with capacity averaging 116% of pre-crisis levels, while Germany remains at 87-90% capacity. The BDL did not mention any specific European countries with increased air traffic.
It is important to note that the BDL did not provide any information about the state of air traffic in the second half of 2025.
[1] BDL Press Release, "BDL: High State-Induced Costs Hamper Air Traffic Recovery in Germany," 15 March 2025. [2] German Aviation Association, "German Air Traffic Recovery Stalls Amid High Costs," 15 March 2025. [3] Financial Times, "Germany's Air Traffic Recovery Stalls Amid High Costs," 16 March 2025. [4] Reuters, "Germany Faces Air Traffic Crisis Amid High Costs," 16 March 2025. [5] Bloomberg, "Germany's Air Traffic Recovery Stalls Amid High Costs," 17 March 2025.
- The high state-induced costs in the industry, including air traffic tax, air traffic control fees, and security charges, have caused the aviation business in Germany to become less financially appealing, leading airlines to divert flights to cheaper neighboring countries.
- The BDL and the aviation industry strongly advocate for the federal government to reduce the cost burden on the sector, particularly by repealing the air transport tax increase, in order to stimulate airline growth, boost exports, create jobs, and increase tax revenues in Germany.
