Short-haul flights at Frankfurt Airport: An environmental problem remains!

Short-haul flights at Frankfurt Airport: An environmental problem remains!

The discussion about short-haul flights at Frankfurt Airport is still a hot topic. In 2024, a whopping 48% of all flight movements will be flights of less than 1000 kilometers. This corresponds to over 200,000 flights and brings with it numerous problems that not only affect the environment but also travelers. In particular, the popular domestic destinations such as Berlin, Munich and Hamburg remain very popular, with over 9,221 take-offs and landings on the Spree and around 8,350 each in Munich and Hamburg.

Janine Wissler from the left-wing parliamentary group in the Bundestag accuses politicians of lacking the necessary will to shift these short-haul flights to rail. The message from the federal government is clear: all major cities can be reached from Frankfurt by train in a maximum of four hours. But CO₂ emissions from domestic flights in Germany will be more than 340,000 tons in 2024, exceeding the levels before the corona pandemic for the first time. A circumstance that is particularly criticized by citizens' initiatives who are vehemently campaigning for an end to all domestic flights.

Focus on the environment and mobility

Fraport AG, operator of the airport, argues that a ban on domestic flights that could be replaced by trains would result in competitive disadvantages. But many passengers are already using the Rail&Fly program - 1.1 million in 2024, an increase of 4%. The airport in Frankfurt has the best rail connection in Germany, making the train journey to Cologne in just 50 minutes. A flight takes a little more than an hour, but the climate footprint tells a different story.

Transport connections like those of Fraport are designed to be intermodal. This means that planes, trains and public transport are connected to each other to promote environmentally friendly mobility. Fraport has set itself the task of improving the accessibility of the airport for passengers and employees by increasing the proportion of travelers who use public transport. It is important to reduce environmentally harmful traffic and develop socially acceptable mobility.

Initiatives and challenges

The Future Rhine-Main Initiative (ZRM), together with the Municipal Working Group (KAG) at Frankfurt Airport, has set itself the goal of developing new concepts for the further development of the region. Topics such as aircraft noise, ultrafine dust and the limits to growth also play a major role. An advisory committee ensures that the concerns of noise protection and air pollution are taken seriously. At a time when sustainable mobility is becoming increasingly important, it is essential to develop innovative strategies to minimize the environmental impact of air transport.

Wissler's demands are clear: a ban on short-haul flights that could easily be replaced by rail, and fair pricing of the environmental consequences of air traffic. The government should take climate protection seriously and not give up the savings potential.

Given the current situation and the significant challenges we face, it remains to be seen how politicians will position themselves with regard to short-haul flights. One thing is certain: the topic remains an exciting and critical chapter in the larger context of transport policy and environmental protection.