Federal government allows Emirates direct flights to Berlin

A new direct flight between Dubai and Berlin's BER airport - this makes an expansion of flight rights for the Emirates airline possible. The federal government decided to do this, but the decision caused outrage among many.

The expansion of flight rights for the airline Emirates in Germany has caused loud criticism from business. “We are appalled at how little the interests of German airlines and our companies’ employees were taken into account in this decision,” said Michael Engel, managing director of the Federal Association of German Airlines (BDF).

The expansion is a “further punch in the stomach of our companies” and means the sell-off of German jobs, said Engel. In the future, Emirates will be allowed to fly to five instead of just four airports in Germany with a coordinated number of connections. This is intended to improve the “international connectivity of German airports,” it said in a statement. The federal government's decision was preceded by a visit to Germany by the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohammed bin Sajid.

Emirates currently flies to Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf and Hamburg. The airline had been trying for a long time to get landing rights, especially for the capital's BER airport, in order to connect it with its hub in Dubai. With the expansion of flight rights, the airline is now allowed to offer a daily long-haul flight between the two capitals. Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner said after a meeting with Sheikh bin Sajid that this would bring "two growing economic regions even closer together."

“Questionable deal at the expense of domestic jobs”

BDF managing director Engel does not share this assessment: "With the decision in favor of Emirates, Berlin is closing all doors to other airlines that would have been prepared to offer real direct long-haul connections to and from Berlin in the future." He again called for relief for Germany as an aviation location.

The Verdi union also criticized the federal government's decision. “This is not a responsible aviation policy, but a questionable deal at the expense of domestic jobs, value creation and part of our critical infrastructure,” explained Dennis Dacke, Verdi federal specialist group leader for air transport and the maritime economy, in a statement. German aviation policy should not be a bargaining chip during state visits.

Dacke warned against the assumption that additional Emirates connections to the hub in Dubai would automatically improve Germany's international connections: "More German departure airports primarily strengthen the hub in the Gulf and can even shift passenger flows from European and German networks there."

Transport Senator welcomes decision

The Berlin-Brandenburg Association of Business Associations, however, welcomed the decision. Berlin Transport Senator Ute Bonde spoke of a “tangible location advantage” for the capital. In the future, passengers from the capital region will reach large parts of Asia, Africa and Oceania via the Dubai hub. “Markets that are of great importance for Berlin’s economy, tourism and science,” said the CDU politician.

If Emirates were to fly from BER to Dubai in the future, it would not be the only direct connection there. From October 25th, Condor and Eurowings (from November 1st) will also be offering direct flights to Dubai in the winter timetable.