Almost half of Germany’s government aircraft movements in the first half of 2026 took place without passengers, after the Bundeswehr flight service recorded 308 passenger-carrying legs and 305 repositioning flights. The figures, released by the Defence Ministry in response to a parliamentary question from Left Party MP Dietmar Bartsch, show how often the aircraft based in Cologne must ferry to and from Berlin, where many government trips begin.
The split has renewed criticism of the flight service’s planning and efficiency, with opponents portraying empty legs as avoidable waste. The ministry’s explanation is operational rather than political: the aircraft are stationed in Cologne, while a large share of missions depart from the capital, creating unavoidable positioning flights before and after passenger transport.
The numbers also underline the persistent sensitivity around the government fleet, which is regularly scrutinised for cost and utilisation. While the ministry’s reply quantifies the scale of empty flights, it does not provide a separate breakdown of their expense, leaving the broader financial impact unclear.