The Federal Association of the German Aviation Industry (ADV) has expressed criticism of the government's draft federal budget for 2026. The association considers the draft, approved by the Federal Cabinet on July 30, 2025, to be a missed opportunity to strategically reposition the aviation industry in Germany. According to the ADV, urgently needed measures would not be implemented, instead fiscal burdens would remain, and relief measures would be dropped.
Ralph Beisel, Managing Director of the ADV, warned that this policy would weaken the competitiveness of German airports. He fears that more airlines could withdraw from German airports and reduce the range of destinations available. This would have a negative impact on private and business travelers as well as on domestic companies. In particular, the ongoing Aviation tax At over €2 billion annually, it is an anachronism. It increases the cost of air travel, weakens regional connections, and distorts competition to the detriment of German airports.
Another point of criticism is the lack of funding for Air traffic control at smaller airportsThis task is organized by the airports themselves and is financed through fees. The association is calling for the state to cover a base amount to prevent higher ticket prices or even the elimination of regional connections. Beisel emphasized that this would cause the regions in particular to lose economic power and access to international markets.
The ADV also counters reports that cite excessive airport charges as the cause of locational disadvantages. It clarifies that airport charges in Germany are below the European average and are internationally competitive. A calculation example illustrates that the government taxes and fees for a flight to New York from Germany, at €18.216, are considerably higher than the €5.613 from a European airport, while the airport charges in Germany, at €5.923, are even lower than the €6.800 in Europe. The ADV therefore argues that the cause of the distortion of competition is the high government taxes and not the airport charges. The ADV appeals to the German Bundestagto make adjustments in the context of the budget approval in order to promote the growth and competitiveness of German aviation.