Suche
Mein Konto
Lufthansa cancels short routes: Why Munich-Nuremberg is a thing of the past
Erding provides information about the development of air traffic between Munich and Nuremberg, including the effects of the corona pandemic.
Lufthansa cancels short routes: Why Munich-Nuremberg is a thing of the past
The aviation industry has undergone dramatic change in recent years, primarily triggered by the corona pandemic. An example of this development is the route between Munich and Nuremberg. This connection, which was offered by Lufthansa a few years ago, is now hard to imagine. Mercury reports that the flight time was only 35 to 40 minutes, while the distance of around 150 kilometers can be reached by ICE in just under an hour. Lufthansa offered four flights per day at peak times, but the main target group was often transit passengers changing in Munich.
Lufthansa's withdrawal from this connection was heavily criticized. In particular, Eike Hallitzky, the Bavarian Green Party state chairman at the time, commented negatively on this. Lufthansa has since discontinued the route and is instead offering an express bus from Franconia to Munich Airport. Environmental protection was cited as the main reason for this decision, as air travel almost completely collapsed worldwide during the pandemic.
Consequences of the pandemic for aviation
The effects of the pandemic have been devastating. Loud Statista Overall, over 74 percent fewer passengers flew in 2020 than in the previous year. German airlines, including Lufthansa, reported estimated revenue losses of over $21 billion. In order to prevent Lufthansa from going bankrupt, the company received state aid worth nine billion euros.
The return of air traffic was slow, and by 2023 the number of passengers in Germany had not yet recovered to 2019 levels. Forecasts also suggest that it could take until 2029 until the values are reached again. The reasons for this include high taxes and fees as well as the growing popularity of online meetings and train travel.
The future of aviation
Another aspect of aviation's recovery is the ongoing challenges in recruiting. DGLR explains that although the demand for flights and travel is increasing, there is often not enough staff available. This leads to long waiting times at airports while rail customers are on the rise. In long-distance rail transport, passenger numbers are again approaching the record level of 2019.
Lufthansa has now parked its A-380 fleet in Teruel, Spain, and there is a possibility that further connections within Germany will be canceled. The return to normality remains an exciting question for the future of aviation in Germany.