Overview
- The draft would lower the Luftverkehrsteuer from 1 July 2026 to €13.03 on short-haul tickets, €33.01 on medium-haul, and €59.43 on long-haul.
- The Finance Ministry estimates a revenue loss of about €185 million in 2026, rising to roughly €355 million by 2030, with savings planned in the Transport Ministry budget from 2027.
- Ryanair accuses the government of breaking its promise, arguing the proposal does not restore the tax to the actually applied May 2024 levels.
- The German airlines’ association BDL urges reinstatement of the previous ETS-linked reduction mechanism to balance tax burdens with EU emissions trading costs.
- Whether ticket prices fall remains uncertain because airlines decide if they pass on the cut, and higher fuel costs are pressuring fares.