Future of Dresden Airport in Danger: Passengers are breaking in!

Future of Dresden Airport in Danger: Passengers are breaking in!

Dresden Airport faces an uncertain future due to dwindling passenger numbers. In 2023, the airport experienced a 5.1% decline in passenger numbers, while Leipzig/Halle Airport increased by 4.7% over the same period. This development raises questions about Dresden's competitiveness, especially when compared with Leipzig, which offers a total of 29 destinations in 13 countries in the coming summer season, while Dresden only serves 14 destinations in 7 countries. A report from Thuringia24 emphasizes that Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG (MFAG) still sees potential in attracting companies and improving the infrastructure.

Götz Ahmelmann, CEO of MFAG, emphasizes the need for smart investments in the Dresden location. At the same time, savings of 250 administrative positions were decided by 2026. Due to financial bottlenecks, Saxony-Anhalt will withdraw its support from 2027. Finance Minister Michael Richter (CDU) stated that Saxony-Anhalt no longer wants to be involved in the airport's losses, while the Free State of Saxony plans to provide around 100 million euros for the airport by 2026.

Challenges for Dresden Airport

As a co-partner, the city of Dresden also bears responsibility for the development of the airport. Thomas Löser from the Greens criticizes and calls for a rethink instead of permanent subsidies. The city is now faced with the challenge of discussing alternative uses for the site, such as for conferences or businesses. The year 2027 is seen as crucial for the renegotiation of grants and responsibilities. Without a viable concept, there is a risk that Dresden will be disconnected from international aviation.

Provides further insight into the situation at Central German airports Aerointernational, which reports that traffic forecasts for 2024 show a 1.7% increase in passengers at Leipzig/Halle and Dresden airports compared to the previous year. While Leipzig/Halle handled around 2.2 million passengers, Dresden Airport suffered another decline with 882,424 passengers. This means that domestic German traffic in Dresden is around 50% below the level before the corona pandemic.

In addition, it can be seen that air freight at Leipzig/Halle Airport remains stable, with around 1.4 million tonnes of air freight in 2024. As the largest DHL hub in the world and the fifth largest air freight center in Europe, Leipzig plays a central role in international freight traffic, while air traffic there fell by 4.6% to 76,827 take-offs and landings.