Summer 2024 shows that Germans’ desire to travel by air is unbroken. As the latest figures from the Airports Association ADV show, flying is still very popular, even though the industry is struggling with considerable hurdles. This summer travel season, which lasted for years, brought with it strong demand, but the challenges posed by rising regulatory costs and a decline in the number of flights available are casting a shadow on the positive development.
In the 31st calendar week (week 31) of 2024, an impressive 4.88 million passengers were counted at German airports. This peak marks the high point of the summer travel wave, comparable to the figures from 2019. Nevertheless, passenger volumes this year are 13.6 percent below the 2019 level, which corresponds to a recovery rate of only 86.4 percent. This is worrying, as the recovery in Germany is much slower than in other European countries.
The European aviation industry has already started to avoid German airports due to the high regulatory costs. These costs include not only the increased aviation taxes, but also the aviation security fees, which were raised in May 2024. The additional fee increase planned for early next year will further drive up costs and could further affect the competitiveness of German airports. The result will be rising airfares and a further reduction in the range of destinations offered by German airports.
Regulatory burdens and their impact
High regulatory costs, including air traffic tax and security fees, are a significant burden on the aviation industry. While airport charges have increased moderately, these increases cannot compensate for the increased costs. The additional fees, which are fully passed on to airfares, have led to a reduction in flight supply and an increase in airfares. This development is particularly detrimental to travelers, as more and more destinations are disappearing from the offer and the number of available routes is decreasing.
The airport association ADV, represented by its managing director Ralph Beisel, is calling for a clear change of direction from the federal government. Beisel appealed to the responsible ministries for transport, economics and finance to take measures to reduce the regulatory burden and improve the competitiveness of Germany as an aviation location. Such a step could not only ease the burden on the industry, but also lead to tax revenues in the long term and have a positive impact on the federal budget.
Growth dynamics with a declining trend
Cumulative passenger numbers from January to August 2024 show a year-on-year growth of seven percent, with a total of 118.55 million passengers. Despite these positive trends, the growth momentum is being dampened by high regulatory costs. This highlights the need for comprehensive reform to unlock the industry’s full potential and accelerate the post-pandemic recovery.
The 2024 summer travel season shows that Germans’ desire to travel by air remains strong. Nevertheless, high regulatory costs and inadequate adjustment of the offer are placing a significant burden on the industry. The calls for a rethink and a reduction in regulatory burdens are more urgent than ever. The airport association ADV is calling on the federal government to act quickly and take the necessary steps to strengthen Germany as an aviation location and to ensure that travelers have an attractive offer. Only through targeted measures can the challenges be overcome and the opportunities for the future of the aviation industry be exploited.
The article Air travel in Germany: A summer full of challenges and opportunities first appeared on Aviation.Direct.
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