2023-09-24 10:55:04
Saarbrücken – While other airports have long since boomed again, at Saarbrücken Airport the only thing that stands out is the costs: fewer passengers, hardly any air freight – but the taxpayers have to pay a lot.
That’s why there are now heated discussions in the state parliament about the airport in the Ensheim district. The opposition is calling for a new strategy.
The reason is the CDU’s request to the SPD state government about the current figures. Among other things, she wanted to know how much money from the tax coffers was needed to keep the international airport afloat. Result: Between 2015 and 2022, the state paid more than 18 million euros in operating aid. This should actually end by law in 2024. But because of Corona, the deadline for financial support was extended until 2027.
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Significant deficits – also due to the negative development in passenger numbers. They recently crashed even more brutally because of Corona, through no fault of their own. Example: In 2010, Ensheim still had 491,000 passengers. It went steadily downward in waves to 368,000 (2019), finally crashing to 52,000 (2020) during the pandemic. In 2022 there were 301,000 passengers.
The freight numbers plummeted even more dramatically. From 58 tons in 2010, they rose to 598 tons (2012), only to collapse to 10 tons in 2022. A catastrophic result.
The state government’s statement: “For Saarbrücken Airport, too, the past few years have been marked by the corona pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the resulting energy crisis, as well as airline bankruptcies.” But those responsible emphasize the importance: “It makes a difference “An important contribution to growth and employment for Saarland as a business, science and tourism location.” It would also be used for rescue flights and to transport blood supplies and organs.
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What: Twitter 09/22/2023
State parliament member Marc Speicher (38, CDU) doesn’t want to let the SPD get away with it that easily: “The state government finally needs a strategy for our airport. While other airports have long since left Corona behind them, the numbers in Ensheim remain lower. We have a real potential location advantage with the international airport. The state government would just have to do something with it. New flight destinations and an expansion of freight volumes could bring enormous benefits for citizens and companies.”
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