Germany’s Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder has warned that a planned reduction in the country’s air travel ticket taxwill not automatically translate into cheaper airline tickets.
The tax cut, approved to take effect on July 1, 2026, is primarily intended to improve Germany’s competitiveness as an aviation hub, Schnieder told newspapers of the Funke Media Group in comments published on Friday.
“The reduction in the air traffic tax serves to make [Germany] more competitive in order to become a serious player again. That is the main objective,” he said.
Germany continues to lag behind other countries in its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, he noted.
Passenger volumes at German airports remain just under 90% of pre-pandemic levels, while other countries have surpassed those figures and are operating at around 110%, Schnieder said.
“This means that flights are not being cancelled – they are simply taking place elsewhere,” he said.
The minister stressed that airlines ultimately decide which routes and services they offer.
For the government, however, Schnieder added that it is crucial that carriers continue to operate from Germany, base aircraft there and maintain a reliable network of connections to and from German airports “in the interests of Germany as a business location and for passengers.”
In October, the Federal Association of the German Air Transport Industry (BDL) reported that air travel in Germany is growing more slowly in the 2025/2026 winter flight schedule than in other European countries.
Airlines are increasingly avoiding Germany due to ever-rising taxes and fees, said BDL Chief Executive Joachim Lang.