BARIG Welcomes German Coalition Committee Decision: Important Signal for Aviation, Further Steps Necessary
Following negotiations on the 2026 federal budget on November 13, 2025, the German coalition committee has now agreed on a package of measures designed to strengthen Germany as an aviation hub. The international airline association BARIG (Board of Airline Representatives in Germany) welcomes the points that have been decided upon—particularly the withdrawal of the increase in air traffic tax from 2024. However, further steps will be necessary.
BARIG Chairman and Executive Director Michael Hoppe states accordingly:
“A first step has been taken. The Federal Government finally acknowledges the importance of aviation in Germany. Their various measures send an essential initial signal to the industry. In doing so, the government fulfils its promise from the coalition contract to relieve air traffic of the high state-imposed costs. The relief of around 400 million euros is a step in the right direction. However, it will take further action to stop the negative trend and get air traffic and the economy back on track for growth.
Get air traffic and the economy back on track for growth
As the industry has repeatedly emphasized in the previous months, the burden of high location costs has noticeably weakened Germany as an aviation hub, with massive negative consequences for the economy. Despite the progress now given, Germany still remains behind compared to other European countries in terms of state-imposed location costs. The relief measures that have now been decided upon represent a reduction of around ten percent of the current cost burden of four billion euros.
We are confident that the German Federal Government understands that further measures need to be taken to strengthen aviation and the economy in Germany again.”
Five concrete measures to provide relief for air traffic
The relief measures for air traffic that the German coalition committee decided on yesterday include “process optimizations, structural reforms, regulatory adjustments, and the reduction of state-imposed location costs.” The following five points are mentioned:
- No further increase in air navigation charges in 2026, but initial reductions already; reduction of more than 10 percent by 2029.
- Reduction of costs for aviation security checks at airports through process and efficiency improvements, taking into account proposals from the federal states.
- Introduction of an import turnover tax offsetting model to compensate for the competitive disadvantages of German airports compared to their European neighbors.
- Removal of the national “power to liquid” quota as quickly as possible.
- Reduction of the air traffic tax on July 1, 2026, to the pre-May 2024 level.
