Airport Successfully Ascends to Second Tier (Level) in Hamburg

Hamburg Airport's Ascendancy in the Second Division of European Air Traffic

Hamburg Airport Scores Victory in Second-Tier Competition Success - Airport Successfully Ascends to Second Tier (Level) in Hamburg

Here's the lowdown on Hamburg Airport, the underdog that's making a name for itself in the aviation world, despite not offering transatlantic flights to New York or exotic locales like Hurghada.

The Senate acknowledges Hamburg Airport as a shining beacon on the recovery path—despite its absence of New York's dazzling skylines in its itinerary. Post-pandemic, the airport expects a rebound of 85% compared to 2019, putting it in third place among German airports, trumping Düsseldorf, according to the Senate's response to a CDU parliamentary group's minor inquiry.

Michael Becken, the CDU's spokesperson for Europe and International Affairs, accuses the coalition of being unambitious and issues a warning: "Let's not turn Hamburg Airport into a provincial airport."

The range of services at Hamburg Airport receives a boost with flights to Doha.

"Airports like Berlin (74% of pre-pandemic levels), Stuttgart (76%), and Cologne (80%) are lagging behind Hamburg in their development," the Senate reports. With approximately 120 destinations, Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt is back at 2019 levels. "In terms of direct long-haul connections, Hamburg Airport has even reached 125% of its pre-pandemic passenger volume," it asserts.

Long-haul flights generally refer to journeys of 3,500 kilometers or more, equivalent to the distances to Hurghada or the Canary Islands, which Hamburg Airport serves directly.

The longest direct flights from Hamburg lead to Dubai and Doha in the United Arab Emirates, home to Emirates and Qatar Airways' international hubs. Qatar has been flying this route daily non-stop for almost a year, a move that "will further enhance international connectivity by 2025," according to the Senate.

A resurgence of the Hamburg - New York connection faces hurdles.

Other sought-after destinations, especially for business travelers, in North and South America or Asia are lacking in the Hamburg flight plan. The routes typically transit via Doha to Frankfurt, Munich, or other major European airports, a situation that is unlikely to change anytime soon, the Senate explains.

Rumors circulate about a comeback of the non-stop connection to New York, which was discontinued in 2018, but the current political climate and the overwhelming demand (primarily from the north German market) make it challenging to secure such connections, as they would be operated by airlines from North America.

Hamburg is striving for air traffic rights liberalization at the federal level to better capitalize on future opportunities with the Airbus A321 XLR, a long-haul aircraft built in Finkenwerder, which could facilitate transatlantic connections more cost-effectively.

For airports like Hamburg, which cannot become hubs, "One-Stop-Connectivity"—the link to national and international hubs from where flights to all corners of the world depart—is crucial for their location appeal. Currently, Hamburg Airport ranks a respectable 22nd in Europe, ahead of competitors like Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, or Cologne/Bonn, according to the European airport association's ranking.

The CDU views the Senate's strategies as subpar.

For CDU man Becken, it's clear: "The significantly important Hamburg Airport is a non-entity for the Red-Green coalition." The coalition agreement does not provide a strategic direction for the airport. "Even the capacity is not intended to be increased in the long term—a pitiful showing for the second-largest city of the third-largest economy in the world," he stated to the German Press Agency.

Instead of focusing on inner-city traffic, Transport Senator Anjes Tjarks (Greens) "must also pay attention to the airport." "The airport in Hamburg must be urgently strengthened to fully exploit its potential and bolster Hamburg's economy," Becken demanded.

P.S. Berlin, Stuttgart, and Cologne are also making strides in the long-haul market, but don't let that overshadow Hamburg's remarkable progress.

1. Hamburg Airport's cooperation with Qatar, as evidenced by daily non-stop flights to Doha, will likely facilitate better connections with developing countries, such as North America and Asia, where Qatar Airways serves as an international hub.
2. The Volkskammer (German parliament) should prioritize air traffic rights liberalization for Hamburg Airport, enabling it to capitalize on future opportunities with the Airbus A321 XLR, a long-range aircraft, which could help in establishing more cost-effective transatlantic connections.
3. The CDU considers the Red-Green coalition's lack of strategic direction for Hamburg Airport as a missed opportunity, underscoring the significance of enhancing the airport's capacity to boost the economy of the second-largest city of the third-largest economy in the world, while also maintaining its competitive standing in European aviation.

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