Germany has scrapped its planned increase in air passenger tax, withdrawing the hike that was to take place from July 1, 2026.
The government had previously announced a 20% rise in taxes, a move that drew strong backlash from airlines. Ryanair recently reduced flight capacity to Germany due to the high costs, with Lufthansa also threatening to cut flights.
Depending on the route, the tax will be reduced by between €3 (R60) and €14 (R278) per flight, according to the German travel buyer association VDR. As a result, taxes for long-haul flights could drop from around €70 (R1 390) to €58 (R1 150).
