IHK President Brings Up Possibility of Dresden Airport's Privatization - IHK President Brings Up Possibility of Dresden Airport's Privatization
Dresden Airport faces an uncertain future as financial struggles deepen. The facility recorded its worst-ever loss in 2024, prompting calls for major changes. Now, a leading business figure has proposed a radical solution: splitting the airport from its parent company and privatising it entirely.
In 2024, Saxony’s airports—including Dresden—suffered their largest annual loss to date, totalling €53.5 million. The crisis forced emergency measures in 2025, with new bank loans and shareholder bailouts keeping operations running until at least the end of 2026. But the financial strain remains, and Saxony-Anhalt has already announced it will cut funding for Dresden Airport by 2027 at the latest.
The Central German Airport Group (MFAG), which owns Dresden Airport, is mainly controlled by the states of Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. The cities of Leipzig, Dresden, and Halle hold smaller shares. Now, Andreas Sperl, president of the Dresden Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), has urged shareholders to reconsider their approach. He argued that continuing to subsidise the airport may no longer be viable. Sperl sees Dresden Airport as a vital asset for the region, especially with the growing semiconductor industry nearby. He believes the airport must maintain and expand flight connections to support economic growth. His proposal involves spinning off the airport from MFAG and privatising it. However, he admitted that privatisation might not guarantee success. The debate comes at a critical time. With funding set to disappear and losses mounting, decisions made in the coming months will shape the airport’s future—and the region’s connectivity.
Dresden Airport’s financial troubles have forced a reckoning. Shareholders must now choose between further subsidies or exploring alternatives like privatisation. The outcome will determine whether the airport can remain a key transport hub for Saxony’s economy.
