On October 13, 2024, Carsten Spohr, the CEO of Lufthansa Group, expressed serious concerns about the impact of high airport fees and taxes on Germany's aviation industry. He warned that these escalating costs could lead to a further reduction in flight schedules across the country, threatening the connectivity of Germany as a business location.
Spohr highlighted that many airlines are avoiding German airports or cutting essential routes due to the increased operational costs. He criticized the government's plans for a blending quota for E-fuels, stating that there is currently insufficient supply of these synthetic fuels to meet such requirements.
This week, Lufthansa's subsidiary Eurowings announced a significant reduction in its flight offerings for the upcoming year, particularly affecting Hamburg, where over 1,000 flights will be removed from the schedule. The airline cited sharply rising local costs as the primary reason for this decision, indicating a potential shift of operations to other EU countries.
Ryanair, the Irish low-cost airline, has also announced a 60% reduction in its services in Hamburg, attributing this cut to the same rising taxes and fees. In Berlin, the airline plans to decrease its offerings by 20%. Ryanair has called on the German Transport Minister and the federal government to lower costs and address the challenges facing the German aviation system, specifically demanding the elimination of the air traffic tax.