Federal Government
Traffic light government flew with the Bundeswehr almost 1,200 times
The federal government has already flown with the Bundeswehr almost 1,200 times. photo
© Jens Büttner/dpa
The Bundeswehr uses 16 aircraft and three helicopters to transport chancellors and ministers to appointments at home and abroad. On average, government flight availability is booked for two flights per day. But that’s not all.
The Ministry of Defense itself booked one of the currently 16 aircraft or one of the three helicopters on standby 107 times. This is followed by the Ministry of the Interior (95 flights), the Ministry of Economic Affairs (94) and the Ministry of Finance (86). On average, the federal government uses the flight availability approximately twice a day.
Almost 1000 flights without passengers
For the flights of the Chancellor, his ministers and their state secretaries, almost as many flights had to be completed in order to bring the planes to the departure point – usually Berlin. This is because the Bundeswehr’s flight operations are still stationed in Cologne-Wahn. Of the almost 1,200 flights operated by the federal government up to August 31st of this year, there were 992 flights without passengers. However, the Ministry of Defense emphasizes in its response that these would be used “targeted” for training and further education.
Since the change of government at the beginning of December, the flight service has completed a further 331 flights to transport the Federal President, as well as members of the Bundestag, Bundesrat and Federal Constitutional Court. In addition, there are 282 flights for provision at the point of departure.
Left-wing MPs demand more scheduled flights
The left-wing MP Dagdelen goes too far with the extent of the use of flight availability. “The traffic light government’s claim to environmental and climate protection is exposed as pure hypocrisy with the emission of tens of thousands of tons of CO2 for empty flights and excessive business trips with the willingness to fly,” she said. “The greater use of cheaper scheduled flights would also be more than appropriate for taxpayers.”
The flight readiness has repeatedly hit the headlines in recent years because of mishaps. Nevertheless, the federal government’s frequent flyers in particular are reluctant to travel by scheduled flights because the planning effort is much greater. There are also relatively few direct flights abroad from Berlin compared to other capital airports such as London or Paris.