The Bundeswehr's air readiness service has faced increasing scrutiny after it was revealed that government flights often operate without any officials onboard. According to recent figures provided by the Defense Ministry, there were 700 'deployment flights' - flights taken to position planes for potential government use - reported in 2025 alone. This has raised questions about the necessity and efficiency of such flights, especially given the limited number of actual official flights that took place during the same period.

The Left Party has prompted this review by questioning the frequency of these empty flights, highlighting the disparity between the 488 flights recorded with Cabinet members or the President and the significantly higher number of flights designated as preparatory. The Defense Ministry has previously defended these 'empty flights' by asserting that many are utilized for training and educational purposes, suggesting that the flights serve a dual role in maintaining operational readiness.

This situation has sparked a contentious debate over the accountability and efficiency of government travel practices in Germany. Critics argue that such flights demonstrate a lack of fiscal responsibility and could be seen as a misuse of military resources. As the scrutiny continues, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to these concerns and whether changes to this practice are on the horizon.