German travelers increasingly favor Istanbul and Gulf hubs over domestic airports

A joint study by the Federal Association of German Aviation Industry (BDL) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) reveals a significant shift in aviation trends for German travelers. In 2024, 54% of passenger traffic from Germany to the Far East and Southeast Asia utilized non-EU hubs for connecting flights, a notable increase from 43.8% in 2019 and 33.7% in 2010.

Major hubs in Türkiye and the Gulf region, specifically Istanbul, Dubai, and Doha, have seen their share of connecting traffic more than double since 2010. The report identifies Turkish Airlines and Istanbul Airport as primary drivers of this trend, alongside major Gulf hubs. These locations are increasingly preferred due to competitive fares and extensive connectivity, often offering single-stop routes to destinations like Australia that would otherwise require multiple connections through Western Europe.

Conversely, traditional German aviation hubs are losing market share. The combined share of direct flights from Germany and connections through domestic hubs for routes to the Far East and Southeast Asia fell from 56% in 2010 to 36% in 2024. This trend is also evident in traffic toward Africa, where transfers through Türkiye and the Gulf rose to 32% in 2024.