As of May 1, 2024, the air traffic tax in Germany was raised by about 25 percent, sparking a heated debate about the impact on the aviation industry, the economy and environmental protection. The association of airlines operating in Germany, BARIG, sharply criticizes this measure and warns of the consequences for the already heavily burdened location costs and the country's economic development. Michael Hoppe, Chairman and Executive Director of BARIG, emphasized that the increase in the air traffic tax is a fatal signal for air traffic and Germany's economy. He sees it as a further burden on the already suffering aviation industry, whose recovery after the Covid 19 pandemic continues to lag behind other countries. Hoppe also criticizes the federal government's policy on the promotion of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), as only a fraction of the funds promised in the coalition agreement have been made available for this. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) also sharply criticized the tax increase. It warned of a weakening of the German economy, especially in important areas such as exports and tourism. In addition, the aviation industry is being hampered in its efforts to decarbonize because the revenue from the air traffic tax is not being used to produce sustainable aviation fuels as originally planned. The increase in the air traffic tax will also have an impact on ticket prices and the competitiveness of the German aviation industry. The IATA warned of a further impairment of the recovery of German air traffic from the pandemic, which is already one of the slowest in the EU. Overall, the discussion about the air traffic tax in Germany will be shaped by the balance between economic interests and environmental protection measures.