Red alert: funding stop threatens Emden's air traffic!

Red alert: funding stop threatens Emden's air traffic!

The news is making waves in Lower Saxony: The federal government plans to stop funding air traffic control at important regional airports such as Emden, Wilhelmshaven-Mariensiel and Braunschweig-Wolfsburg. Transport Minister Grant Hendrik Tonne urgently warns of the massive dangers that this decision brings with it for the use of air transport and regional economic structures. nwzonline.de reports that 44 airports nationwide are affected by this cancellation.

While 50 million euros are still available for air traffic control for 2023, the financing plan for 2026 looks bleak: The funding was canceled without warning. According to information from kreiszeitung.de, the missing sum for Lower Saxony in the future will be around four million euros. These funds are crucial to maintaining operating costs for the smaller airports, as they have to cover these costs themselves, unlike large airports such as Frankfurt or Hamburg, which are supported by German air traffic control.

Regional airports in danger

Emden airfield is particularly affected, where air traffic control costs account for around a third of total sales, according to managing director Olaf Schmidt. The airport plays an essential role for rescue and emergency services as well as the offshore industry. Its closure could have a catastrophic impact not only on local infrastructure, but also on key economic players in the region. The Jade Weser Airport in Wilhelmshaven-Mariensiel also sees itself under threat, with managing director Frank Schnieder trying to defuse the situation by adjusting fees.

“We hope for an interim solution for 2026, because an abrupt loss of funds would be devastating,” continued Schmidt. Tonne also emphasizes the importance of regional airports for research, business and security. Without this support, there could be a decline in the number of airports in Germany, endangering overall economic stability.

Political decisions are imminent

The timing of the decision on the funding is crucial: On November 13th, the Bundestag Budget Committee will decide whether the money will ultimately flow or not. Airport management's concerns are definitely justified, as many smaller airports rely on this support to maintain operations.

The current situation makes it clear how fragile the situation of regional airports is. We can only hope that the decision-makers have a good hand and recognize the need for these airports for the region. Without a positive turnaround, the aviation landscape in Lower Saxony could soon be completely different.