Berlin’s Aviation Crisis: Why a Dubai Flight Could Reshape Its Global Role
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) remains disconnected from much of the world, handling just 26 million passengers in 2025—far below other major European hubs. The city lacks direct flights to Asia, Australia, and most of Africa, putting it at a disadvantage against rival business centres. Now, a debate over whether Emirates should launch a Berlin-Dubai route has exposed deeper flaws in Germany’s aviation policy.
A daily Emirates flight to Dubai would give Berlin instant access to over 140 global destinations, many currently requiring two or three stopovers. The airline is the most logical choice for the city’s first true long-haul connection, yet political resistance persists. Critics argue the move would disrupt existing traffic flows rather than generate new demand—a claim contradicted by studies showing long-haul routes attract fresh passengers instead of just redistributing them.
The standoff stems from an outdated air transport agreement between Germany and the UAE, which artificially caps capacity and fails to reflect modern demand. While Austria and Switzerland actively expand their hubs, Germany’s federal system prioritises protecting established routes over enabling growth. This cautious approach has left Berlin isolated, reinforcing its reputation as a second-tier aviation hub. Supporters of the Emirates route point to the economic benefits of direct connectivity, particularly for business travellers. Opponents, however, frame the debate as a test of Germany’s willingness to adapt—or its preference for maintaining the status quo.
The dispute over Emirates’ potential Berlin-Dubai service highlights a broader pattern: Germany’s reluctance to modernise its aviation strategy. Without reform, the country risks further marginalising its capital in global air travel. For now, Berlin’s limited long-haul options remain a tangible obstacle in its competition with Europe’s leading business destinations.
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