Germany's Soaring Airport Charges Threaten Aviation Sector
Germany's aviation sector faces significant challenges due to soaring airport charges. The country now ranks third-highest in Europe for landing and take-off fees, making it one of the most expensive locations for flights. The high costs are reflected in the reduction of flight offerings. Germany is at risk of falling to second-to-last place in Europe by the first half of 2025. A flight with an A320-200 from Stuttgart Airport to an EU destination now costs 4,926 euros, with state airport charges per departing passenger increasing by 143 percent since 2019. Fees for DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung have risen by 40 percent, triple the rate of the pre-Corona year 2019. The air security fee in Stuttgart has also increased by 40 percent, reaching 13.96 euros per passenger. State airport charges for a German flight to an EU destination have risen by almost 20 percent at the start of 2025, setting a new record high. Sweden's decision to abolish air traffic tax as of July 1, 2025, highlights the need for Germany to take similar action to maintain competitiveness. The increase in state airport charges has further eroded Germany's aviation location competitiveness. The fee cap for air security fees has been raised to 15 euros, with some locations seeing increases of up to 50 percent. No significant changes in customs fees were reported.
