Bundestag approves reduction of air traffic tax effective 1 July 2026
- 1 Minute Lesezeit
On 21 May 2026, the Bundestag voted to repeal the increase in the air travel tax that had been implemented in May 2024 at the initiative of the “Traffic Light “ Coalition.
On Thursday, 21 May 2026, the Bundestag voted to repeal the increase in the air traffic tax (enacted as part of the Second Budget Financing Act) that had been introduced effective 1 May 2024 at the initiative of the “Traffic Light “ Coalition (SPD, the Greens and the FDP). The Finance Committee had issued a recommendation on the federal government’s draft bill for a second act amending the Air Traffic Tax Act after it had adopted the draft bill without amendments on May 20.
The resolution calls for reducing the tax rates for short-, medium-, and long-haul flights between €2.50 and €11.40 per passenger. Specifically:
For short-haul flights: from €15.53 to €13.03.
For medium-haul flights: from €39.34 to €33.01.
For long-haul flights: from €70.83 to €59.43.
Source:
Bundestag online, press release of 21 May 2026.