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Germany’s air freight location is under pressure. During an industry discussion in Berlin, the associations BDI, BDL, and DSLV highlighted the challenges posed by rising location costs and bureaucratic hurdles on February 5, 2026. These factors threaten not only competitiveness but also value creation and job creation in the air freight sector.
Decline in Air Freight Volume
Air freight in Germany has experienced a significant decline in recent years. In 2024, only about 2 million tons of air freight were transported, while in the early 2010s, approximately 2.5 million tons were regularly moved. This development is viewed as alarming by the associations, as the international air freight market is simultaneously growing. According to the associations‘ press release, air freight transport is considered essential for German foreign trade, which reached a value of around 290 billion EUR in 2024.
Dr. Joachim Lang, Managing Director of BDL, emphasizes the importance of air freight for the German economy: “Air freight is the logistical backbone of a globally connected economy like Germany. Our airlines and hubs can deliver top performance – but they need competitive framework conditions to do so.”
Causes of Value Creation Migration
The associations identify increased location costs and excessive bureaucracy as the main causes for the migration of air freight activities abroad. These factors make the German air freight location unattractive and lead companies to shift their capacities to foreign hubs. The consequences are not only economic; the security of supply in Germany could also be at risk. Particularly time-sensitive supply chains, such as in medical technology or electronics, rely on reliable air freight.
Therefore, the associations call for a reduction in high costs and pragmatic regulation to enhance the attractiveness of the location. “The competitiveness of air freight in Germany largely depends on the political level,” say the representatives of the associations.
Need for Action for the Future
To strengthen Germany’s air freight location, clear measures are required. These include reducing location costs, eliminating bureaucratic hurdles, and establishing binding framework conditions at the European level. The associations propose examining tax relief for the industry and simplifying customs and security processes.
The next industry discussion in Berlin will serve as a platform to jointly explore possible solutions with representatives from government, industry, and logistics. The goal is to make the location more attractive through concrete measures and to stop the downward trend in transport volume and value creation.
