Germany’s airline association BDF is urging the government to reduce air navigation charges by €100 million to €150 million from 2027, arguing that lower costs are needed to protect domestic air services and the country’s competitiveness as an aviation location. The appeal follows a CDU presidency decision calling for short-term relief on navigation charges and a medium-term reduction in aviation tax.
BDF managing director Michael Engel said charges for arrivals and departures in Germany had tripled in recent years. The association is pressing for a decision before the end of the year, when charges for the following year must be set, according to the BDF.
Arrival and departure charges are determined annually through a federal cost regulation issued by the Federal Ministry of Transport. The CDU resolution does not specify the scale or timing of the proposed reduction, but links lower charges to preventing further cuts in domestic connections and improving international links for German metropolitan areas.
The party also supports reducing Germany’s aviation tax over the medium term, particularly to support domestic travel and international connectivity. The €100 million to €150 million figure is the BDF’s requested level of relief and is not an approved government measure.