The Surge of Success: Hamburg Airport's Remarkable Return
Hamburg Airport Successfully Ascends to Second Tier Operational Status - Hamburg Airport Scores Promotion Success in the Second League (Sports Context)
The Senate paints an optimistic picture for Hamburg Airport. Despite the absence of coveted long-haul destinations like New York, the airport is on a winning streak. After the pandemic slump, the airport anticipates a 85% recovery compared to the pre-pandemic year 2019, positioning it third among German airports.
Michael Becken, CDU's spokesman for Europe and International Affairs in the faction, voices concern about the red-green coalition's lack of ambition. He cautions against letting the airport become a provincial airport.
New stops boost the lineup
Flights to Doha have propelled the array of options offered by Hamburg Airport. With around 120 destinations, the airport is back to 2019 levels in terms of number of destinations. In terms of passenger volume for direct long-haul connections, the airport has even exceeded the pre-pandemic level by 25%.
Long-haul routes are those covering 3,500 kilometers or more, equivalent to the distances to Hurghada or the Canary Islands, which are directly served from Hamburg.
The longest direct flights from Hamburg lead to Dubai and Doha in the United Arab Emirates, global hubs for Emirates and Qatar Airways respectively. Qatar has been flying this route daily non-stop for almost a year. The Senate predicts that this will further enhance international connectivity by 2025.
A revival of the Hamburg – New York connection seems challenging
Other destinations, particularly for business travelers, in North and South America or Asia are currently absent from Hamburg's flight plan. Typically, most flights to these locations route through Doha before continuing to major European airports, and this pattern might persist, according to the Senate.
Although there are whispers of reviving the non-stop connection to New York, which was discontinued in 2018, the current political environment and disproportionate demand from the north German market make it challenging to secure such connections, which would only be provided by North American airlines.
Hamburg Airport strives for excellent "One-Stop-Connectivity"
Hamburg Airport is advocating for reforms in traffic rights at the federal level to leverage future market opportunities, such as those offered by the Airbus A321 XLR, a long-haul aircraft built in Finkenwerder. With this aircraft, airlines could operate cost-effective connections over the Atlantic.
For non-hub airports like Hamburg, "One-Stop-Connectivity" is of paramount importance - the ability to connect to national and international hubs from which global destinations can be reached. According to the latest European airport association ranking, Hamburg Airport ranks impressively at 22nd out of 473 airports in Europe, surpassing domestic competitors such as Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, or Cologne/Bonn.
The CDU sees the Senate's plans as lacking drive.
Becken, CDU member, is clear: "The vital Hamburg Airport holds no significance for the Red-Green coalition." The coalition agreement does not offer a strategic direction for the airport. Moreover, capacity expansion is not prioritized long-term, according to the Senate.
Instead of focusing on inner-city traffic, Transport Senator Anjes Tjarks (Greens) must "finally also show policy concern for the airport," Becken urged. "The airport in Hamburg must urgently be bolstered to fully tap its potential and boost Hamburg's economy."
- Hamburg
- Hamburg Airport
- New York
- Air Traffic
- Europe
- Coronavirus
- Senate
- CDU
- Doha
- Success Course
- Düsseldorf
- Red-Green
- Stuttgart
- Cologne
- Atlantic
- North America
- Berlin
- Helmut Schmidt
- Hurghada
Enrichment Data:- Hamburg Airport is actively improving passenger comfort and expanding its connections, investing 20 million euros in the HAMUpgrade programme for terminal improvements and enhancing passenger experience [3].- The airport aims to become Germany's first carbon-neutral metropolitan airport, relying on its own wind farm and green district heating [2].- Although there is little mention of securing post-pandemic direct long-haul flights to North America or New York, the airport is making efforts to expand its route network and secure market opportunities [3].- The procurement of the ACI Europe "Best Airport Award 2025" in the 10–25 million passenger category highlights its resilience, agility, and focus on passenger experience [3]. These factors could potentially support securing long-haul international routes, such as those to North America or New York.
- The CDU expresses concern that the red-green coalition's lack of ambition could turn Hamburg Airport into a provincial airport, emphasizing the importance of the airport in boosting Hamburg's economy.
- In an effort to tap its full potential, Hamburg Airport is advocating for reforms in traffic rights at the federal level, with the aim of capitalizing on future market opportunities, such as those offered by the Airbus A321 XLR, and securing long-haul international routes, like those to North America or New York.
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