BERLIN/SCHÖNEFELD (dpa-AFX) - The German government has expressed openness to allowing takeoff and landing rights for Emirates airline at the capital's BER airport. "The United Arab Emirates wishes to expand connections to and from Germany, which is why the issue of landing rights—among many other topics—was raised," a government spokesperson said in response to an inquiry. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) recently visited the country as part of a tour through the Gulf region.
According to the spokesperson, the government is working intensively to expand the possibilities for international flight connections to and from Germany. However, a decision on the matter has not yet been made. The newspaper "Zeit" had previously reported on the issue.
The issue of flight licenses for Emirates at BER has been a contentious topic for years. Under current rules, the airline is permitted to serve a maximum of four German airports: Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf, and Hamburg. Giving up one of these locations in favor of Berlin has so far not been an option for the company.
More Long-Haul Connections at BER
The Berlin-Brandenburg airport company (FBB), led by CEO Aletta von Massenbach, along with the two federal states involved, have long been calling for an additional license to offer more long-haul routes from BER.
The heads of government for Berlin and Brandenburg, Kai Wegner (CDU) and Dietmar Woidke (SPD), responded positively to the federal government's willingness to negotiate on the issue.
"People and businesses in the capital region expect more direct connections without unnecessary and ecologically questionable transfers at other European or German airports," they said in a joint statement. "A direct connection to an important global growth region will strengthen all of eastern Germany as a business location, bring more investment to the region, and create new jobs."
Emirates competitor Lufthansa, on the other hand, is strictly opposed to granting an additional license for its rival in Germany./vr/DP/jha
