Kassel Airport: Losses of millions and a yawning emptiness in holiday traffic

Kassel Airport: Losses of millions and a yawning emptiness in holiday traffic

Kassel Airport, officially known as Kassel-Calden Airport, shows a striking yawning emptiness in the current high season. Despite the significant investment of 280 million euros raised to build the airport, the passenger situation has not developed as hoped since it opened in 2013. Only 35 flights are planned between June 28 and August 15, 2024. In comparison, Düsseldorf Airport records an average of 403 flights per day and Frankfurt even 590 flights, which illustrates the challenge facing Kassel Airport. Derwesten.de reports that the departure hall at Kassel Airport has a capacity for up to 700,000 passengers per year, but only received 82,983 passengers in 2024.

The flight system only includes four fixed destinations: Palma de Mallorca, Bolzano, Sylt and Usedom, and special trips to Rome, Cyprus and Barcelona are planned during the summer holidays. The low number of flights and destinations is not only an indication of the modest demand, but also raises questions about the future of the regional airport. Airliners.de explains that the airport has been in the red in the long term and has recorded losses of millions since it opened. In 2023, losses amounted to 5 million euros, resulting in a total loss of 60 million euros since 2013.

Political support and future prospects

Despite these worrying figures, the Hessian state government is committed to long-term support for the airport. Finance Minister Alexander Lorz (CDU) emphasizes the importance of the airport for the North Hesse economy and emphasizes that the regional airport is considered an important infrastructure project for the region. A coalition agreement by the new state government also provides for a strengthening of the airport and could also include the examination of a direct rail connection to the Kassel ICE train station. This project is intended to improve transport connections and contribute to CO2 relief. As Airliners.de reports However, at 108,000 in 2023, passenger numbers remained below the pre-Corona level of 121,000 in 2019.

However, the development of Kassel Airport is being questioned by critics who are calling for it to be downgraded to a commercial airfield. This demand is based on the airport's ongoing financial difficulties and on the reality that the majority of regional airports in Germany have suffered from a significant decline in passenger numbers in recent years. According to an analysis by DB Research The financial problems affect many regional airports equally and often have to be met from public coffers.

A regional dilemma

The constant uncertainty about the future of Kassel Airport reflects a larger dilemma facing many regional airports in Germany. Between 2010 and 2014, most noticed a steady decline in passenger numbers, while larger airports benefited from an increase. This imbalance has led to the creation of more and more unprofitable airports within the same catchment areas in recent years, raising the question of whether and how public resources should continue to be used wisely.

In the future, Kassel Airport could serve as another example of how public infrastructure projects can often falter when they rely on the broad shoulders of the public sector and still fail to meet the needs of travelers. The next few years will be crucial to see whether the political measures take effect or whether “airport death” may be imminent.