Air traffic in Europe grew dynamically last year, according to the German Aviation Association (BDL), but not in Germany. “While more people are flying in Europe than ever before, Germany remains detached from the aviation boom,” BDL Managing Director Joachim Lang said on Wednesday in Berlin. Flight capacity from Germany in 2025 remained significantly below pre-pandemic levels.
According to BDL data, passenger numbers at German airports rose slightly by 3.6% last year to around 219.6 million. However, the volume of flights in Germany reached only about 89% of the 2019 level. Elsewhere in Europe, the recovery phase following the pandemic has long been completed. The average seat capacity across Europe now stands at 106% of pre-Covid levels, and at 108% when Germany is excluded.
The industry association attributes this gap to “the still excessively high government-imposed location costs.” In 2025 alone, the financial burden on Germany as an aviation hub increased by €1.1 billion to around €4.3 billion. Relief measures introduced by the coalition committee in November, including adjustments to the air traffic tax, are a step in the right direction, Lang said at a press conference in Berlin. However, further measures are needed. The federal government plans to reduce the air traffic tax from July 1, 2026.
Looking ahead to the aviation sector’s goal of achieving climate neutrality by mid-century, Lang criticized the still limited availability of alternative climate-friendly fuel blends at reasonable prices. He therefore advocated for a climate protection levy per passenger at the EU level.
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