IHK boss brings Dresden Airport spin-off into play

Dresden Chamber of Industry and Commerce President Andreas Sperl considers the spin-off and privatization of the financially ailing Dresden Airport from Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG to be an option. Ultimately, the shareholders would have to decide whether they want to continue to provide subsidies or whether there are other options, said the head of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. There was no way around a clear restructuring concept. There are enough examples of airports being privatized.

Sperl admitted that he did not know whether this would also work in the case of Dresden. "If it were up to me, I would at least look into it," said the former head of Elbe Flugzeugwerke Dresden.

Saxon airports with high losses

The main owners of Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG (MFAG) are the two states of Saxony (around 77.3 percent) and Saxony-Anhalt (around 18.5 percent). The cities of Leipzig, Dresden and Halle also hold shares. MFAG has been under pressure for years. In 2024, Saxony's airports recorded the highest loss in their history - a total of 53.5 million euros.

An acute financial crisis was only narrowly averted last year - thanks to new bank loans and grants from the shareholders. A financing gap of 145 million euros was closed. This means that operations are secured at least until the end of 2026. However, Saxony-Anhalt no longer wants to pay for the loss-making Dresden Airport from 2027 at the latest. Sperl showed understanding for the fact that the city of Halle has no particular interest in the airport in Dresden.

Sperl: Dresden Airport is a strategic location factor

According to Sperl, Dresden needs an airport. "We not only need the existing flight connections, but we also need an expansion of flight connections, especially in view of the major investments in the semiconductor industry." Dresden can only assert itself internationally as an attractive location if it can ensure reasonable flight connections. "For me, Dresden Airport is not just a transport hub, but a strategic location factor."