Germany grants UAE airlines landing rights for fifth airport, opening Berlin to Dubai route

Bilateral agreement expansion

The German federal government agreed to amend its bilateral air transport agreement with the United Arab Emirates, granting UAE carriers access to a fifth German airport. The original aviation pact from 1994 restricted UAE airlines to four destinations: Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf, and Hamburg. Under the revised framework finalized during a Berlin visit by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE carriers can schedule up to seven flights per week to Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) while operations to the existing four airports remain capped. The aviation measure accompanies a broader 40 billion euro investment package planned by the Emirates in Germany.

Industry and labour opposition

German airline representatives and labour groups condemned the expansion. The Federal Association of German Airlines (BDF) and Lufthansa warned that granting additional landing rights diverts passenger volume and economic value away from German hub airports toward the Gulf. Industry leaders pointed out that European carriers must meet higher domestic standards regarding employee collective bargaining, social rights, and environmental regulations compared to subsidized foreign competitors.

We are appalled by how little the interests of German airlines and their employees were taken into account in this decision.

Trade union Ver.di echoed the objection, warning of negative effects on domestic aviation jobs and critical transport infrastructure. Dennis Dacke, federal group leader for aviation at Ver.di, argued that the arrangement blocks opportunities for other carriers to develop standalone long-haul routes from the German capital.

Regional economic support in Berlin

Political and business leaders in Berlin and Brandenburg welcomed the market opening after years of diplomatic and regional lobbying. Berlin Governing Mayor Kai Wegner and Transport Senator Ute Bonde stated that direct flights to Dubai offer the capital region efficient connections across Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Alexander Schirp, managing director of the Berlin-Brandenburg business association (UVB), noted that the daily service provides local enterprises with direct access to a major global commercial hub.

Today our long effort pays off: BER receives the international connection that a capital city deserves.

Airline competition and regulatory timeline

Lufthansa traditionally channels intercontinental travellers from eastern Germany through its primary hubs in Frankfurt and Munich, leaving Berlin Brandenburg Airport with few year-round long-haul routes. Seasonal winter flights between Berlin and Dubai are currently operated by Condor and Eurowings. Although the intergovernmental treaty text specifies an additional airport rather than Emirates directly, the Dubai carrier has sought Berlin landing rights since at least June 2010, while Abu Dhabi carrier Etihad also recently expressed interest. Airport operator CEO Aletta von Massenbach did not immediately issue a public statement, and administrative proceedings in the UAE will determine the formal start date for scheduled flights.