Overview
- Lawmakers, who held a Finance Committee hearing Monday, plan a Bundestag vote Thursday with Bundesrat consent still required.
- From July, the air travel levy per departing passenger would drop to €13.03 on short European routes, €33.01 on medium-haul, and €59.43 on long-haul, reversing last year's increase.
- Airlines and airports call the cut a first step and press for lower air-traffic control fees, citing Ryanair's reduced Berlin offerings as a sign costs still drive capacity away.
- The Finance Ministry urged carriers to pass savings to passengers, though it cannot force fare cuts and higher oil prices linked to the Iran war could absorb much of the relief.
- Environmental group VCD argues the tax cut sends the wrong signal during an energy and climate crunch and tilts competition against lower-emission rail.