German Airports See 16% Drop in Passenger Numbers

Passenger traffic through German airports rose by 2.8% in the first half of this year, yet the commercial aviation sector in Germany continues to face significant challenges, according to the German Aviation Association.

Data shows that German airports handled a total of 99.4 million passengers between January and June 2025. However, this figure remains around 16% below the pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019. In the same period last year, passenger numbers had increased by 10%.

The German Aviation Association highlighted that Germany is lagging behind other European countries, attributing this to high taxes and airport fees. As a result, airlines are withdrawing aircraft from German airports and deploying them to more cost-competitive locations in other European countries.

Low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and easyJet have removed roughly one in three aircraft that were previously based in Germany since 2019. Out of 190 planes in their German fleets, only 130 remain stationed in the country.

Industry leaders warn that this trend is not only reducing Germany’s international connectivity but is also causing economic losses worth billions. Each medium-haul aircraft supports about 170 jobs and contributes approximately 70 million euros to the nation’s gross domestic product.

To align with more competitive European markets, the association has called for government passenger fees, currently around 35 euros per traveler, to be cut by half. It also noted that a previously planned aviation tax reduction for 2026, which was later scrapped, would have sent a strong signal to the airline industry.