GERMANY'S state leaders urge the federal government to lower taxes and fees on the aviation industry to maintain competitiveness, reports Reuters.

High operational costs have caused German airports to lag behind their European counterparts in passenger numbers.

Hesse state chief Boris Rhein emphasized that Germany cannot afford state-imposed disadvantages as airlines increasingly avoid German hubs.

Ryanair recently cut 20 per cent of its traffic at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport due to excessive location fees.

Germany's aviation sector has struggled to recover from recent crises, and stakeholders are calling for immediate reforms to ensure the industry's long-term viability.

Source, Shipping Gazette