Following news this summer of a further 2.2 billion Euros funding being made available for Berlin Brandenburg Airport’s new terminal’s construction, Germany’s airports are largely optimistic for the future. Here's the view of Marcel Schütz, aviation director, Memmingen Airport.
Q) Where are your key opportunities for route development?
A) Memmingen Airport offers easy access to southern Germany, western Austria and eastern Switzerland, one of the wealthiest regions in Europe. Memmingen has a high potential of outgoing traffic with 11.3 million people living within a two-hour catchment area and 90% above average European income. Incoming traffic is driven by ski resorts, Munich, the Allgäu – one of Germany’s largest tourist regions, themeparks such as Legoland, while five of the top 10 tourist attractions of Bavaria are within an hour’s drive.
Q) How much is your airport focusing on new routes in Asia?
A) We are focusing on western Asian countries like Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan due to ethnic connections. Also any tourist groups planning to visit Bavaria would be perfectly located for all attractions from Memmingen Airport.
Q) What do you think are the key issues facing the German aviation market?
A) The German aviation tax for all flights and airports. Also, regional airports have to deal with restrictive bilateral agreements like no access for low-cost-carriers from the Middle East, which shrinks the market and opportunities of smaller airports. Last but not least, high-speed railway will compete more on domestic traffic.
Q) If Brexit ever happens, what impact do you expect it to have on European aviation?
A) It will have a positive and negative impact. The negative one will be the reduction of flights to and from the UK, which is a major market at the moment thanks to its being an island, the expat community and its tourism opportunities. On the other side, the aviation industry will move more to mainland Europe and some opportunities for Germany may arise.
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This article is modified from an original feature that appeared in... ROUTES NEWS - ISSUE 6, 2016 PLEASE CLICK HERE to view the magazine. |
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