Stuttgart Airport will assume responsibility for conducting passenger screening checks in-house starting in November 2026. This follows the example of other major German hubs such as Frankfurt, Berlin, and Cologne, which have already made this transition. The basis for the change is a contract signed with the Federal Ministry of the Interior last December. Airport CEO Ulrich Heppe emphasized that taking over the organization, procurement, and financing will allow the airport to manage service providers more directly and thus make processes more efficient for travelers. The aim of this measure is to noticeably reduce waiting times through more needs-based staffing at the screening points.
Despite the organizational restructuring, state oversight remains in place. The Federal Police retain overall responsibility for aviation security and will continue to provide armed protection for the control areas. The agency is also responsible for certifying deployed personnel and approving new technical equipment. Carsten Laube, President of the Stuttgart Federal Police Directorate, emphasized that maintaining high security standards is of paramount importance. The airport will henceforth act as the client for private security services, with the professional qualifications of aviation security assistants continuing to be subject to strict legal requirements.
Industry experts see this model, enshrined in the German Aviation Security Act, as a key lever for increasing the competitiveness of regional airports. By consolidating terminal management and security logistics under one roof, peak traffic periods can be handled more flexibly. As part of this acquisition, Stuttgart Airport is also expected to invest in modern screening technology to increase throughput per hour. The financing of security measures will continue to be provided through aviation security fees, which are collected from airlines and will now be used directly by the airport to contract security companies.
The transition requires a complex preparatory phase, including new tendering processes for security service providers. Existing contracts with service providers, previously coordinated through the Federal Police, will expire or be transferred to the new structure. Stuttgart Airport expects that the closer integration of flight schedules and personnel deployment at the security checkpoints will improve ground service quality. This move addresses increased passenger numbers and airline pressure for smoother ground operations to minimize delays across the European air traffic network.