Eurowings, Germany's second-largest airline and a subsidiary of Lufthansa, will drastically reduce its offering at Hamburg Airport in 2025. The reason for this decision is the massive increase in location costs, in particular Hamburg Airport's plans to increase fees for airlines.
This measure comes at a time when the aviation industry in Germany is already struggling with rising infrastructure costs and tougher competition. The airline's announcement to cancel over 1.000 flights from its Hamburg schedule represents a significant change in the air transport offering for business and leisure travelers from northern Germany.
Significant reduction in flight capacity
As a first step, Eurowings will significantly limit its flight connections to and from Hamburg. This will particularly affect the domestic German connection between Hamburg and Cologne/Bonn, which is extremely popular with business travelers.
From the 2025 summer flight schedule, this route will be completely discontinued due to a lack of profitability. In addition, six other international destinations in Europe and North Africa are expected to be canceled. Eurowings has not yet announced in detail which specific destinations will be affected. However, it is foreseeable that these capacity cuts will significantly weaken Hamburg's direct connection to important international markets.
Rising costs drive airlines out of Germany
Jens Bischof, CEO of Eurowings, expressed concern about developments at the Hamburg site: "The reduced service will significantly weaken the direct connection to Hamburg and make flying from the Hanseatic city noticeably more expensive." He blames the planned fee increases at Hamburg Airport for the drastic measures and regrets that no viable solutions have been found despite intensive negotiations. The consequences of the increased site costs are clear: flying from Hamburg will become more expensive for passengers, and both business and holiday travelers will suffer from this development.
In addition to Hamburg, Eurowings is also planning to close routes at other German airports. This is part of a larger strategic realignment that is intended to help the airline secure its profitability. In the recent past, the overall costs of air traffic in Germany and Europe have risen continuously. This includes not only airport fees, but also rising costs for fuel, personnel and environmental regulations. Eurowings is therefore forced to close unprofitable routes and shift capacity to other EU countries where the cost structure is more favorable for airlines.
Impact on air traffic in Hamburg
Eurowings is the largest airline at Hamburg Airport with 16 aircraft stationed and around 70 destinations. The airline offers the widest range of direct connections from Germany's northernmost international airport. However, the planned flight cancellations will severely limit Hamburg's connections to important European and North African destinations, which could negatively impact travel options for passengers from the region.
Eurowings' decision is a bitter blow for Hamburg Airport itself. A reduction in flight offerings could lead to a drop in passenger numbers, which in turn could impact the airport's revenue. It remains to be seen whether other airlines will step into the gap left by Eurowings' cancellations, or whether the airport will be forced to resort to further cost savings or alternative sources of income.
Eurowings in a difficult market environment
Eurowings' decision to reduce its service in Hamburg is part of a larger trend affecting European air traffic. Airlines in Germany are increasingly under pressure as the overall cost of operating is in many cases higher than in other European countries. The rising costs of airport fees, fuel and personnel, combined with increased competition from low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and EasyJet, are making it increasingly difficult for German airlines to operate profitably.
Eurowings is not the only airline considering route cuts in Germany. Other airlines have also made similar considerations, as costs in Germany are high compared to other countries. While airlines in other EU countries enjoy competitive advantages due to cheaper location costs and less strict environmental regulations, German airlines are under increasing pressure to rethink their business models.
Eurowings' announcement that it will cancel more than 1.000 flights in Hamburg marks a significant change for air traffic in the region. Passengers will have to prepare for higher prices and fewer direct connections. Hamburg Airport's planned fee increases have contributed to this drastic decision, and it remains to be seen whether the situation will ease in the future.
For Eurowings itself, this decision represents a strategic withdrawal from one of its most important markets, which shows how strong the economic pressure on German airlines has become. The future of air traffic in Hamburg remains uncertain, and the hope is that new solutions will be found to continue to offer passengers a wide and affordable range of services.