Germany’s airline association BDF wants regional governments and federal states to help subsidise selected domestic routes to keep links between regional business centres and major hubs such as Frankfurt and Munich. The proposal targets inner-German connections that have become uneconomic because of high jet fuel prices and elevated state fees, especially at smaller and medium-sized airports.
The industry body does not name specific routes, but points to Bremen, Dresden, Münster/Osnabrück and Paderborn as examples where hub connections have come under strain or have been difficult to restore. BDF argues that public support at regional level could preserve air access for local economies while keeping services viable for airlines.
Such arrangements can be structured under EU public service obligation rules, and BDF cites European Commission figures showing 165 subsidised PSO routes across the bloc. The debate comes amid continuing criticism of domestic flying on environmental grounds, even as carriers and airport operators warn that Germany’s short-haul network remains under pressure after the pandemic and from higher operating costs.