The recovery of German air traffic post-pandemic appears to be lagging significantly behind other European countries, raising concerns within the industry. In 2025, German airports are projected to handle over 219 million passengers, which marks a 4% increase compared to 2024. However, Joachim Lang, head of the German Aviation Association (BDL), expresses dissatisfaction, noting that the total is still nearly 12% less than the pre-COVID levels of 2019. This discrepancy places Germany among the last in Europe, while many countries have surpassed their pre-crisis figures, with places like Spain and Italy showing increases of 16% and 17%, respectively.

The discussions around the lack of competitiveness in the German aviation market have intensified, especially concerning the operational restrictions placed on foreign carriers like Emirates. Many industry stakeholders believe that high taxes and fees are not the only reasons for the recovery issues; they point to the blocking of certain foreign airlines that could contribute to enhancing connectivity and passenger options. The result of this situation is a growing divide between local airlines pushing for protectionist policies and those favoring more open competition.

As the ongoing disputes threaten to further undermine the German aviation sector's performance, there is an urgent call for stakeholders to reevaluate regulatory frameworks to enable a more robust recovery. Without such adjustments, Germany risks falling further behind its European peers, which could have long-term implications for its tourism and business travel sectors, as well as the overall economy.