The Kassel-Calden airport in Germany has had no passengers in December, leading local Green Party representatives to question the economic viability of the airport despite government assertions of its benefits.
The Kassel-Calden airport has been under scrutiny after reports revealed it had no passenger traffic during December. The Green Party in the Hessian state parliament is challenging the government's positive assessment of the airport's economic impact, claiming it fails to account for the millions in losses that the airport incurs each year. The party has enlisted economist Friedrich Thießen from Chemnitz University of Technology to critically evaluate a favorable report produced by an aviation research center in 2024, which is led by Richard Klophaus from Worms University but is not affiliated with the university itself.
Local political leaders argue that there is a disconnect between the airport's status as a public transport hub and its actual utilization, highlighting concerns about government spending and economic miscalculations. They demand that the state government cease what they call the "beautification" of the airport's financial situation and instead address the transparency and accountability of the airport authority. The situation reflects broader questions about the sustainability of regional airports in an era of shrinking air travel demand and financial viability.
If the Green Party's findings prove accurate, they could catalyze a significant shift in policy and investment in regional air traffic management, possibly leading to the reallocation of resources towards more viable transportation alternatives. The outcomes of this scrutiny will be significant not only for the Kassel region but could set a precedent for how governments assess and support local airports across Germany and possibly beyond.
