Ryanair Manager: "Conflicts Affect Us Quickly," Germany's Air Market "Broken"

The conflict in the Middle East is a concern for many airlines. Marcel Pouchain Meyer, Ryanair's Marketing Manager for the DACH region, discusses operating an airline during wartime and criticizes the "broken" German air transport market.

Middle East Conflict: Minimal Impact on Ryanair

Regarding the Middle East conflict, Pouchain Meyer states that Ryanair is only peripherally affected. While they have operations in Amman, Jordan, only about 50 flights have been canceled in recent weeks, which is a relatively small number compared to other airlines.

Air Travel: A Volatile Business

Meyer emphasizes that air travel is an inherently volatile business, citing the Covid-19 pandemic as a prime example. Airlines are quickly impacted by such conflicts, and it is crucial that these situations do not prolong. However, airlines' capabilities are limited, as they largely depend on the actions and decisions of governmental bodies.

Germany's "Broken" Air Transport Market

Pouchain Meyer has frequently criticized Germany as an aviation hub. He reiterates that the German air transport market is "broken," having only recovered to 89% of its pre-Covid level, lagging 11% behind. In contrast, other European countries like Poland, Hungary, and Ireland show significantly better recovery rates. He attributes this stagnation to the exorbitant operating costs in Germany, particularly the €15 air transport tax per ticket, which is non-existent in many other European countries. For a low-cost airline like Ryanair, this €15 per ticket represents a substantial cost.

Call for Abolition of Air Transport Tax

While acknowledging a commitment from the German coalition committee to reduce the tax in July, Meyer points out that the financing remains unclear. Ryanair's appeal is for the immediate and complete abolition of the tax. He argues that a mere reduction is far from sufficient to revive the struggling German air market.

Why Abolish the Tax?

Pouchain Meyer defends the call for tax abolition by highlighting that tourism and air travel are vital segments of the German economy. Airlines serve as a crucial pillar for bringing visitors who contribute financially, thereby generating tax revenue. He concludes that these high access costs are ultimately detrimental to Germany's economic contribution from tourism and air travel.