Germany's federal government is set to give the aviation sector a significant boost. The cabinet in Berlin approved a new aviation strategy on Wednesday, with the stated goal of positioning Germany as a leading aviation nation that is "economically and technologically competitive, sovereign, resilient and sustainable," according to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs.
The strategy sets out to improve the business location conditions for aviation companies in Germany, with costs named as the top priority.
According to the government, regulations that go beyond EU requirements are to be scaled back. Aviation companies will also be given simpler access to state funding programmes. Dedicated federal funding schemes are to be focused on the development of new short- and medium-haul aircraft. The strategy paper was presented on Wednesday at the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) in Berlin.
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche (CDU) described aviation as an "industrial success story" for Germany that must be continued. "We want Germany to be competitive, technologically strong, sovereign, resilient and sustainable as a leading aviation nation," said Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU).
She pointed to the reduction of the air transport tax coming into effect on 1 July 2026 and indicated further "medium- and long-term relief" through bureaucracy reduction and investments in modernisation.
The industry welcomed the direction of the strategy. "The aviation strategy describes the right vision for Germany as an aviation location," said Michael Engel, Managing Director of the Federal Association of German Airlines. "However, it remains too vague where it matters most for competitiveness: on reducing state-imposed location costs."
Climate and environmental groups criticised the strategy's lack of focus on climate protection. "The strategy falls short of what is ecologically, economically and technologically possible," said Anja Köhne of Germanwatch. "The ramp-up of renewably produced synthetic aviation fuels is not being tackled with sufficient ambition."
The Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) criticised the strategy's focus on growing air traffic. "Where attractive alternatives exist, air routes must be shifted to rail," said VCD aviation expert Alfred Schreiber.
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