Germany is cutting its aviation tax (Luftverkehrsteuer) from July 1, 2026. The Bundestag voted on the amendment to the Aviation Tax Act (Luftverkehrsteuergesetz) in May 2026.
The new rates return to the levels that were in place before the previous government raised them on May 1, 2024.
Every flight ticket departing from a German airport includes an aviation tax. The amount depends on the destination. From July 1, 2026, the rates will be:
| Route distance | Current rate | New rate from July 1 |
| Short-haul (up to 2,500 km) | €15.53 | €13.03 |
| Medium-haul (2,500–6,000 km) | €39.34 | €33.01 |
| Long-haul (over 6,000 km) | €70.83 | €59.43 |
Short-haul covers most destinations within Europe, including the UK, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Turkey. Medium-haul covers the Middle East, parts of North Africa, and some Central Asian destinations. Long-haul covers the US, Canada, Southeast Asia, Australia, and most of Asia.
Why is Germany cutting the aviation tax?
The previous coalition government (Ampel-Koalition) raised the aviation tax in May 2024. The current government is committed to reversing that increase in its coalition agreement (Koalitionsvertrag).
The Federal Finance Ministry (Bundesfinanzministerium) estimates the cut will cost the federal budget €185 million per year and around €355 million in total through 2030.
The cut applies to tickets for all flights departing German airports, regardless of the airline or destination. Both economy and business class tickets are affected.
Will airlines pass on the savings?
The aviation tax is a per-ticket charge paid by the airline to the state. Whether airlines reduce fares by exactly the tax savings depends on each carrier.
In Germany’s competitive short-haul market, airlines generally pass on tax changes in their published fares over time, though not always immediately.
NOTE: The Bundesrat must also consider the law before it comes into force. The vote had not yet taken place as of May 20, 2026. The July 1 target date assumes a timely Bundesrat decision.
