Overview
- Germany’s 19 major‑airport courts logged more than 121,000 passenger compensation cases in 2025, roughly 10,000 fewer than 2024 yet 44% above five years earlier, according to the German Association of Judges.
- Caseloads clustered at Cologne (22,491, down sharply from about 41,300), Frankfurt (19,374, up year over year) and Königs Wusterhausen (19,239), with notable volumes in Düsseldorf (about 12,400), Hamburg (8,528), Hannover (4,221) and Bremen (1,337).
- At Königs Wusterhausen, which serves Berlin‑Brandenburg Airport, passenger suits account for about 93% of all civil filings, and court officials describe significant staffing challenges.
- The Richterbund attributes high volumes partly to online claims portals and flexible venue choices, while the steep decline in Cologne is linked to Lufthansa’s push for out‑of‑court settlements.
- Early 2026 data point to a renewed uptick in filings at Cologne, and AI judge‑assist tools remain in testing, with the 'Kai' system used to speed analysis without replacing judicial review.