Hesse Stands By Kassel Airport as 2025 Budget Projects €5 Million Loss

State officials portray the loss-making site as a regional economic driver, citing employment gains, tax receipts, a new business park.

Overview

The finance ministry says the airport’s deficit was just under €5 million in 2024, with a similar shortfall planned in the 2025 budget.
Operations remain weak after the loss of the based Sundair aircraft in 2024, with no fixed scheduled winter routes and limited regular flights returning from late January.
A ZFL study cited by the state reports 1,287 direct jobs on site by summer 2024, 3,432 total associated jobs, €291 million in gross value added, and €72.6 million in 2023 tax revenue.
Officials highlight a 64-hectare business park under development and suggest future uses such as electric flying, drone operations, civil protection, and defense roles.
Aviation scholar Yvonne Ziegler says the airport has not met its original connectivity goals, pointing to low passenger totals (83,000 in 2024 versus 500,000–600,000 once forecast) and a project that ran to about €271 million in construction costs.