Considering the ongoing diesel crisis (kerosene crisis), German airports anticipate that up to 20 million passengers could be affected by flight cancellations during the summer. Ralph Beisel, CEO of the German Airport Federation (ADV), told the “Welt am Sonntag” expressing concern that flight cuts are particularly likely to impact low-cost airlines and destinations deemed less touristically important.
Beisel outlined potential scenarios for 2026. In the best-case scenario, passenger development is expected to stagnate. However, the worst-case scenario threatens a 10 percent drop in capacity at some airports, which, extrapolated across all facilities, could affect 20 million travelers. These targets may either cease to be flown or become rarified and significantly more expensive.
According to the Airport Federation, flight disruptions are predicted not only in case of physical shortages but proactively due to high fuel costs. Beisel noted that kerosene prices have been double their pre-war levels for over two months, and expects no normalization in the coming months. He added that even if kerosene were physically available, airlines would struggle to operate many flights economically at current price points.
To mitigate the consequences of the fuel crisis, the airports are lobbying for government relief. In the “Welt am Sonntag” Beisel called for an immediate suspension of the aviation tax, and a temporary, at least 50 percent reduction in the medium term.