Lufthansa CEO Warns of Deteriorating Air Travel in Germany
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr has expressed serious concerns regarding the future of air travel in Germany, highlighting that escalating airport fees and new government regulations are compelling airlines to cut routes. He believes this troubling trend could significantly harm the country’s aviation sector, as higher operational costs make it increasingly challenging for airlines to maintain vital flight connections.
In an interview with Bild am Sonntag on October 13, 2024, Spohr indicated that the recent cancellations and reductions in flight routes stem from excessive fees imposed by the government, which have rendered German airports less competitive compared to their European counterparts. The Federal Association of the German Aviation Industry supports these claims, noting that Germany’s fees are considerably higher than those in other European countries. For example, taxes for medium-haul flights now add approximately €30 per passenger, escalating costs for airlines operating in the region.
“I am very concerned about the connectivity of our business locations,” Spohr stated. “The extreme increase in state costs for air traffic is leading to a further decline in services. More and more airlines are avoiding German airports or canceling important connections.”
In addition to rising fees, Spohr pointed out that upcoming national regulations, such as the blending quota for e-fuels, could further exacerbate the situation. He noted that these fuels are not yet widely available, which he argues is contributing to a decline in the quality of flight connections in major economic regions compared to global standards.
Spohr’s comments coincide with several airlines, including Lufthansa’s subsidiary Eurowings and Ryanair, announcing significant cuts to their German operations in response to soaring operational costs. Ryanair has already declared plans to reduce its flight operations to Dortmund (DTM), Dresden (DRS), and Leipzig (LEJ) by summer 2025. Additionally, the airline will decrease its flight frequency by approximately 60% from Hamburg (HAM) and 20% from Berlin (BER), citing increased airport fees in Germany as the main reason for these adjustments.
Following Ryanair’s lead, Eurowings has also revealed its intention to scale back operations in Germany, planning to cancel over 1,000 flights from Hamburg by 2025. The airline attributes these cuts to elevated airport and security fees, which pose significant challenges to sustaining normal operations.
Spohr warned that if these issues remain unaddressed, Germany’s airports could lose their competitiveness, negatively impacting the economy and reducing investment in the sector. The concerns raised by Spohr and other industry leaders underscore the urgent need for a reevaluation of the regulatory and fee structures governing air travel in Germany to ensure the long-term viability and growth of its aviation industry.
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