In March this year, German airports welcomed a total of 15,08 million passengers, a significant increase compared to the previous month of February. However, this increase in demand in connection with Easter travel masks the overall weak and unsatisfactory traffic development in Germany. Compared to 2019, the recovery rate of passenger traffic in Germany is a dismal 78,4 percent, which puts the country at the bottom of the list in Europe.

In March, 15,08 million passengers used German airports, an increase of 13,3 percent compared to March 2023. Nevertheless, 2019 percent of travelers are still missing compared to March 21,6. Cargo volumes grew compared to the previous month, but still did not reach the 2019 level. The number of commercial flight movements increased by 6,4 percent compared to the previous year.

March was characterized by growth in all transport segments, with European traffic increasing the most. Significant increases were recorded in domestic German air traffic and in European traffic, while intercontinental demand also increased. However, the recovery rate in Germany is still below the European average.

The development in the first quarter shows overall positive growth compared to the same period last year, but Germany continues to lag behind the major European aviation markets. This is attributed, among other things, to high regulatory location costs, which deter many airlines. This creates gaps in supply that primarily affect private and business travelers.

Cargo volumes reflect the weakness of the German export economy, with unloadings growing but invitations declining. In March, air freight volumes increased slightly compared to the previous month, but remain below the 2019 level.