German aviation hub status declines as Turkey and Gulf regions grow

A joint industry analysis by the German Air Transport Association (BDL) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) reveals that Germany is losing its strategic position as a global aviation hub. Between 2010 and 2024, the cost of flights departing from or arriving in Germany doubled, rising from approximately 150 euros to 300 euros.

This increase is attributed to rising air transport taxes, security fees, air traffic control service charges, and increased personnel and fleet operating costs. Consequently, international transit traffic is shifting toward hubs in Turkey and the Gulf region. For long-distance routes between Germany and East/Southeast Asia, the share of connecting flights via non-EU hubs rose from 34 percent to 54 percent, while the share of transit through German airports like Frankfurt and Munich fell from 56 percent to 36 percent.