CEO warns further cancellations “unavoidable” without relief from taxes and fees
Lufthansa plans to cancel around 100 domestic flights per week this summer as soaring airport charges and government taxes make several German routes unprofitable, CEO Carsten Spohr told WELT am SONNTAG.
“Without a reduction in the impact on the airport, further cancellations will be unavoidable,” Spohr said, adding that domestic operations in some regions are no longer viable due to a doubling of site-related costs since 2019.
Routes currently under review include Munich–Münster/Osnabrück and Munich–Dresden, both of which operate at a daily loss. If withdrawn, Münster/Osnabrück Airport would lose its last Lufthansa connection to an international hub.
The decision follows a similar move by Ryanair, which last week announced a 10% reduction in its German winter schedule, cutting 800,000 seats and 24 routes due to high operating costs.
Spohr’s comments underscore the mounting pressure on airlines operating in Germany, where environmental levies, air traffic control fees, and airport charges have risen sharply since the pandemic.