Germany to Reduce Air Ticket Tax

The German government has announced it will abolish the increase in air ticket taxes, which had been imposed by the previous government under Olaf Scholz. Tourism Minister Christoph Ploß stated that the issue will be discussed in the 2026 budget.

The tax increase, which took effect in May 2024, had raised ticket prices for short, medium, and long-haul destinations, generating approximately 1.9 billion euros for the German state in the second half of 2024. Airlines expressed strong reactions, with Eurowings and Ryanair considering route cancellations.

Christoph Ploß argued that holidays should not become unaffordable, while emphasizing the need to reduce airport fees. Air transport contributes 2.5 to 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions.