The German government is reportedly planning to reverse the increase in aviation tax introduced by the previous administration in May 2024. Discussions surrounding the 2026 budget are expected to prioritize this reversal, a move already stipulated within the existing coalition agreement.
Christoph Ploß, the German government’s Coordinator for Tourism, emphasized the need to reduce the tax burden and airport fees. He cautioned that failure to do so risks a further reduction in flight connections to and from German airports. Ploß stated that a competitive aviation industry, strong airlines and efficient airports are essential for Germany.
The increase in aviation tax has notably impacted travel costs for German citizens. For shorter routes, the tax per ticket rose from €12.48 to €15.53, while for medium and long-haul flights, the increases were more substantial, reaching €38.72 and €70.83 respectively. This has resulted in ticket price increases of up to €12.77 in some instances.
Ploß highlighted the potential impact on leisure travel, particularly for those who save for extended vacations. He argued the previous administration’s tax increases have made holidays more expensive for millions of Germans and warned that the higher costs could lead to a reduction in flight routes both to and from Germany, negatively impacting the tourism sector.