Lufthansa CEO raises concerns over airport fees in Germany

Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr has raised concerns about the future of air travel in Germany. According to the head of the country’s flag carrier, escalating airport fees and new government regulations are forcing airlines to cut routes. Spohr believes this concerning trend will harm Germany’s aviation sector, as higher costs are making it harder for airlines to maintain important flight connections.

In an interview with Bild am Sonntag on October 13, 2024, Spohr said the cancellations and route reductions are due to high fees imposed by the government, which have made German airports less competitive compared to their European counterparts. The Federal Association of the German Aviation Industry supports these claims, pointing out that Germany’s fees are much higher than in other European countries. For instance, for a medium-haul flight, taxes now add around €30 per passenger, driving up costs for airlines.

“I am very concerned about the connectivity of our business locations. 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,” Spohr said.

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