At the National Aviation Conference at Leipzig Airport, Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed how important the aviation sector is for industry and climate action. That makes it all the more important "that the branch can demonstrate that growth does not always need to go hand in hand with increases in emissions of climate-damaging gases," said Angela Merkel.

Hydrogen as fuel

In the words of the Chancellor, the German government is not only trusting in electric mobility, but also believes that hydrogen has a future as a fuel. By the end of the year it intends to finalise a hydrogen strategy. Given the fact that some 850,000 jobs depend directly or indirectly on the aviation sector, the branch must retain its performance and remain competitive. 

The German government sees efficiency and sustainability as a priority of future aviation, continued Angela Merkel. This is also laid out in the Leipzig Statement on the future of the aviation branch, which was signed by representatives of the realms of politics, industry and the trade unions.

Leipzig Statement on the future of aviation

The Leipzig Statement pinpoints key areas of action that are to be addressed jointly, from new environmentally and climate-friendly technologies to digitalisation and new mobility, not forgetting modern, secure jobs. It is the starting point for the planned review of the German government’s aviation strategy.

With a view to the "ambitious goal of CO2-neutral flying" the statement stresses the relevance of "alternative sustainable fuels – in particular synthetic power-to-liquid fuels". The German government intends to foster the development of these fuels to marketable products in future.

First National Aviation Conference

Climate- and environmentally-friendly aviation, international competitiveness and secure jobs – those were the key issues discussed at the first National Aviation Conference, which was hosted by Peter Altmaier, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Andreas Scheuer, Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, and the state premier of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer.

This new forum was agreed on by the CDU/CSU and the SPD in the 2018 coalition agreement. The National Aviation Conference was designed to advance debate on the key issues facing aviation. The topic has become even more relevant in the face of the current debates about climate action and climate-appropriate mobility.

The National Aviation Conference is to be held once every two years, alternating with the ILA aerospace exhibition in Berlin, and will be staged in a different federal state each time.