BERLIN (Reuters) -Airlines are withdrawing aircraft from Germany due to soaring state-imposed costs, the German Aviation Association (BDL) said on Monday, warning of significant economic fallout.
The number of planes stationed in Germany has dropped from 190 in 2019 to 130 this year, resulting in an estimated loss of 10,000 jobs and 4 billion euros ($4.66 billion) in annual economic value added, BDL said.
“Since 2019, state-imposed costs have more than doubled, and airlines are increasingly avoiding Germany,” said BDL President Jens Bischof, urging the government to prioritise post-pandemic recovery in the aviation sector.
The industry has criticised Berlin’s decision to postpone a planned reduction in aviation tax, arguing that reversing the May 2024 hike would have signalled support for carriers.
State levies, including taxes, air traffic control fees and security charges, are expected to rise by 1.1 billion to 4.4 billion euros this year, hampering recovery, said BDL.
Passenger numbers rose just 3% in the first half of the year to 99.4 million, far below the 10% growth seen a year earlier.
Germany ranks 28th out of 31 European countries in post-pandemic aviation recovery, with seat capacity at 87% of 2019 levels, compared with a European average of 104%.
($1 = 0.8583 euros)
(Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach, Writing by Friederike Heine, Editing by Miranda Murray)
