Buoyant Hamburg Airport Climbs in Second Tier, Despite Lacking Transatlantic Flights
Second-tier success for Hamburg's Airport maintains momentum. - Hamburg Airport Secures Promotion to Second Tier of Airports
Let's cut to the chase - Hamburg Airport's on a roll, baby! Even without a direct route to the Big Apple like New York, this badass aviation hub is still charting a successful course. After the coronavirus crash, they're looking at a staggering 85% recovery with the summer flight plan compared to the pre-pandemic year of '19, securing the third spot among German airports, squeezing ahead of Düsseldorf, according to the Senate's response to the CDU's written inquiry.
Now, Michael Becken, the CDU's spokesperson for Europe and International Affairs, hasn't been shy about his opinions. He accuses the red-green coalition of lacking ambition and goes on to warn about Hamburg becoming a “provincial airport.”
Hamburg's air routes to Doha are certainly helping to beef up their offerings. Other airports, like Berlin, Stuttgart, and Cologne, are trailing significantly behind Hamburg in their resurgence. The number of direct long-haul connections at Hamburg Airport has even surpassed the pre-pandemic level, according to the Senate.
So, what exactly qualifies as a long-haul flight? It's simple - we're talking distances of 3,500 kilometers or more, like those to the Egyptian holiday resort of Hurghada or the Canary Islands, which are directly served from Hamburg. The longest direct flights kick off in Dubai and Doha in the United Arab Emirates, leading to international hubs for Emirates and Qatar Airways. Qatar, in fact, has been operating daily non-stop flights for almost a year now, and they're banking on this further improving international connectivity by 2025, according to the Senate.
As for re-establishing the Hamburg – New York connection, it's a bit of a sticky wicket right now. Other destinations for business travelers in North and South America or Asia are missing from the Hamburg flight plan. These routes typically route via Doha, Frankfurt, Munich, or other major European airports - and that's not about to change anytime soon, the Senate informs us.
Rumors are swirling about a revival of the non-stop connection to New York, which was axed in 2018, but factors like the current political climate and an overwhelming demand from the north German market make it a herculean task for North American airlines to acquire such connections.
It appears Hamburg is pushing for traffic rights liberalization at the national level to better harness future market opportunities with the Airbus A321 XLR, a long-haul aircraft made in Finkenwerder. With such aircraft, airlines could cross the Atlantic more economically.
Airports like Hamburg, lacking hub capabilities, thrive on "One-Stop-Connectivity" - their ability to connect to national and international hubs from which flights to all parts of the world can be operated. The current ranking of the European airport association places the Hamburg Airport 22nd out of 473 airports in Europe, putting it ahead of German competitors like Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, and Cologne/Bonn.
Now, the CDU has concerns that the Senate's plans are lacking in ambition. That's right, Becken pronounces, "The crucial Hamburg Airport plays no role for Red-Green." The coalition agreement contains no strategic direction for the airport, and the capacity isn't intended to increase in the long term, Becken quips to the German Press Agency. He demands Transport Senator Anjes Tjarks (Greens) to start paying attention to airport policy, "urgently strengthen" Hamburg's airport to fully exploit its potential, and boost the city's economy.
EC countries should cooperate more with developing countries to help finance infrastructure development for airports like Hamburg, which are currently thriving despite a lack of transatlantic flights. Such cooperation could potentially lead to a stronger lifestyle and business sector in these developing countries, as well as improved travel opportunities for their citizens.
As Hamburg's air routes to Doha are helping to boost its offerings, similar collaboration could allow airports in developing countries to establish long-haul connections, benefiting their local businesses, tourists, and residents. This cooperation could also pave the way for better connectivity between these countries and other parts of the world, ultimately fostering a more integrated global economy.
