More intercontinental flights from BER: politicians finally call for actions!

More intercontinental flights from BER: politicians finally call for actions!

The focus is on the airport in Berlin: ten out of 16 prime ministers demand more intercontinental flights on BER. At the Prime Minister Conference in Berlin on Thursday, December 12, 2024, the heads of government brought this urgent appeal. In particular, the ruling mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner (CDU), commented positively about this initiative and emphasized that only the federal government has the potential to approve these flights. The Brandenburg Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) recently also raised this claim. Wegner pointed out that there are currently only six intercontinental flights from East German airports, while Munich and Frankfurt have over 200 such connections. He criticized this as inadequate for the economic development of the region.

An important example is the airline Emirates, which has long strived for flight operations on BER. However, the Federal Government has so far failed to see what is seen as a challenge for air traffic management and competitiveness, as rbbb24 reports. This could possibly be because a strong competition for Lufthansa is feared. Meanwhile, experts see the need to expand the flight connections from Berlin, as there are enough interested parties who could increase the travel offer. The prime ministers' demands could be crucial for the upcoming developments in the aviation industry.

In addition to discussion about BER, the nationwide situation in air traffic is of great importance. aero.de emphasizes that the opportunities for more long-haul flights are not only regional, but also nationally interesting. These demands could also be regarded as strategic steps to improve the economic situation in East Germany and to strengthen Germany's air traffic infrastructure in the long term. The current developments could herald a turn in the German aviation landscape that should benefit both travelers and the economy.