Hamburg Airport: Shining in the Second League, but Missing the Transatlantic Thrill
Airport in Hamburg succeeds in achieving promotion to the Second Division. - Hamburg Airport manages to secure a promotion, moving from the second tier to the top division.
Hamburg Airport, the three-time champ in the second division of German airports - y'know, after that coronavirus crash - is cruising forward, according to the Senate. Despite lacking the big leagues' transatlantic destinations like New York, Hamburg's attracting 85% of its pre-pandemic glory with the summer flight plan of 2019!
The Senate's response to a minor interpellation from the CDU parliamentary group puts Hamburg in the third spot among German airports - a notch above Düsseldorf. CDU spokesman Michael Becken stands by the airport, slamming the red-green coalition for their lack of ambition and warning about the risk of Hamburg turning into a "little airport."
A couple of new feathers in Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt's cap? Flights to Doha, that's what! Soaring past the 2019 level with around 120 destinations under its wings, Hamburg Airport isn't kidding around. In fact, it's outperforming other airports like Berlin, Stuttgart, and Cologne in terms of development. But, when it comes to direct long-haul connections, the airport's reached a whopping 125% of the pre-pandemic level in passenger volume, says the Senate.
Long-haul flights often mean more than 3,500 kilometers away, like a joyride to Hurghada or a jaunt to the Canaries. Hamburg's top international non-stop flights take off to Dubai or Doha in the United Arab Emirates - hotspots for international airlines Emirates and Qatar Airways. Qatar's been flying this route daily, non-stop for almost a year now, hinting at better international connectivity by 2025, as per the Senate.
As for a Hamburg-New York connection, it's looking a bit tricky at the moment. Other destinations, especially for business travelers, in North and South America or Asia are missing from the Hamburg flight plan. Flights usually route through Doha, Frankfurt, Munich, or other large European airports, and that's unlikely to change soon, as per the Senate. And, even though there are murmurs about reviving the non-stop connection to New York, discontinued in 2018, it's not looking promising due to the current political landscape and overwhelming demand from the northern German market, the Senate explains.
Hamburg Airport is gunning for more liberal traffic rights at the federal level, aims to better utilize future opportunities for the Airbus A321 XLR, and strives to improve its international connectivity. As for location quality, Hamburg Airport's killing it! The European airport association ranks it 22nd out of 473 airports in Europe, outshining German competitors like Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, or Cologne/Bonn in "One-Stop-Connectivity." The CDU, however, finds the Senate's plans lacking in ambition.
CDU member Becken sums it up: "Red-Green doesn't seem to care about the importance of Hamburg Airport." Although the coalition agreement doesn't include a strategic direction for the airport, Senator Anjes Tjarks (Greens) is being encouraged to focus on politics for the airport and urgently strengthen it to fully exploit its potential and boost Hamburg's economy.
- Although Hamburg Airport is making strides in its cooperation with developing countries, such as Qatar, it seems to be missing the transatlantic cooperation with countries like the United States, particularly in destinations like New York, which could significantly enhance its lifestyle and travel opportunities.
- As Hamburg Airport aims to improve its international connectivity, particularly focusing on developing countries, its lack of direct long-haul connections to North and South America may hinder its ability to provide a diverse lifestyle and travel experiences for its passengers.
