Stuttgart Airport expects passenger numbers to fall slightly in 2026 and its financial result to turn slightly negative, after returning to profit in 2025. Chief executive Ulrich Heppe gave the outlook in an interview with the Schwäbische Zeitung, citing geopolitical uncertainty, high kerosene prices, economic conditions and rising costs for Germany’s aviation sector. He said a more positive result in 2027 was possible, but remained uncertain.
Flughafen Stuttgart GmbH recorded a €2.1 million result in 2025, compared with a €6.1 million loss in 2024. Passenger traffic rose 4.8% to 9.6 million, while the airport handled 95,765 aircraft movements. The airport had previously forecast about 9.4 million passengers in 2026.
Heppe said costs imposed by the state at Stuttgart had increased 126% since 2019, compared with a 12% rise in costs attributable to the airport itself. The interview account did not provide an independent breakdown of those figures. The forecast comes as the airport faces a less favourable operating environment following last year’s return to profit.