Wedoany.com Report on Feb 12th, The German federal government has indicated an openness to the possibility of granting landing rights to Emirates at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). A government spokesperson noted: "The United Arab Emirates wishes to strengthen air connections with Germany, and therefore the issue of landing rights has been raised in discussions between the two sides."
Recently, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) visited the country during a trip to the Gulf region. The government is working to expand flight connections between Germany and international destinations, but no final decision has been made yet regarding Emirates' landing rights at Berlin Brandenburg Airport.
The issue of flight permits for Emirates at Berlin Brandenburg Airport has long been contentious. According to current regulations, the airline is only permitted to operate at four German airports: Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf, and Hamburg. For Emirates, it is currently not feasible to relinquish any of these airports in favor of Berlin.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport Company (FBB), its CEO Aletta von Massenbach, and the relevant federal states continue to advocate for additional permits to establish more long-haul flight connections at Berlin Brandenburg Airport.
The heads of government of Berlin and Brandenburg, Kai Wegner (CDU) and Dietmar Woidke (SPD), have welcomed the federal government's willingness to negotiate Emirates' landing rights at Berlin Brandenburg Airport. In a joint statement, they emphasized: "Residents and businesses in the capital region expect more direct flights to reduce unnecessary transfers at other airports, which also benefits the environment." "Direct flights to important global growth regions will enhance the competitiveness of the East German economic area, attract investment, and promote employment."
However, Emirates' competitor Lufthansa strongly opposes granting the airline more permits in Germany. Emirates has applied for slots at Berlin Brandenburg Airport, with plans to commence operations in December 2026.
