The recovery in air traffic volumes in Germany gained significant momentum in 2025 following the pandemic-related declines of previous years. The number of drone sightings increased. Climate change and digitalisation are issues shaping the future.
Peak flight movements
Three million aircraft movements (3.071 million) took place in German airspace in 2025, representing an increase of 3.5 percent over the previous year (2.969 million).
The threshold of 10,000 flights per day in German airspace was exceeded several times. The peak day was 18 July 2025 with 10,220 flights. Such a volume of traffic was last seen in 2019.
These figures underline the renewed growth in air traffic following the COVID-19 pandemic, although traffic volumes are still below pre-pandemic levels.
Air traffic control accounts for small proportion of total delays
Despite the increased volume of air traffic, delays were significantly reduced compared to the previous year. The measures to increase efficiency and capacity are having an effect: Air traffic control systems have been improved and airspace management optimised to allow air traffic controllers to work more productively. The increased recruitment of personnel to improve the pipeline of air traffic controllers is also having a positive effect. In 2025, DFS took on 140 junior staff, with 150 new hires planned for 2026.
At the same time, it should be borne in mind that delays have multiple causes and air traffic control only plays a minor part in them. The average delay caused by air traffic control is currently running around 30 seconds per flight (2024: 50 seconds).
More reports of disruptions caused by drones
By 31 December 2025, 225 disruptions caused by drones were registered in German airspace. This is significantly more than in 2024 (161). DFS takes this issue very seriously, liaises closely with its partners at airports on each individual sighting and reacts immediately to ensure safe flight operations.
Since 2025, units of the German Federal Police have been equipped with drone detection systems, so the significant increase in reports could also be due to this technological improvement.
Digitalisation
Air traffic control has been modularising its systems for years to accelerate digitalisation processes. The idea of splitting complex systems into smaller, independent modules that can be flexibly combined and customised is widely accepted in the European air traffic control world and was significantly advanced in 2025.
Focus on the environment and climate change
Climate change has an impact on the work of DFS. Increasingly severe thunderstorms, heavy rain or the overheating of infrastructure (such as runways) can impair operational processes. A working group established in 2025 is focusing intensively on these issues and possible solutions. The coordination procedures for extreme meteorological phenomena were also optimised in 2025, which has further reduced delays in air traffic.
An optimistic look into the future
Commenting on the year gone by, Dirk Mahns, COO on the DFS Executive Board, said: "The year 2025 saw significant improvements in air traffic. We are experiencing a renewed increase in air traffic volumes with high punctuality levels following the pandemic."
Media contact:
Ute Otterbein
Telephone: +49(0)6103 707-4162
E-mail: presse@dfs.de
DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH (DFS), the German air navigation service provider, is a State-owned company under private law with around 5,800 employees as at 31 December 2025. DFS ensures the safe and punctual flow of air traffic over Germany. Around 2,200 air traffic controllers guide more than three million flights through German airspace every year, up to 10,000 flights every day. The company operates control centres in Bremen, Karlsruhe, Langen and Munich as well as control towers at the 15 designated international airports in Germany. The subsidiary, DFS Aviation Services GmbH, markets and sells products and services related to air navigation services, and provides air traffic control at nine regional airports in Germany and at Edinburgh Airport in the United Kingdom. DFS is working on the integration of drones into air traffic and has set up a joint venture, Droniq GmbH, with Deutsche Telekom. Other subsidiaries include R. Eisenschmidt GmbH, which markets publications and products for general aviation, and Kaufbeuren ATM Training GmbH (KAT), which provides training for military air traffic services personnel. The joint venture FCS Flight Calibration Services GmbH offers flight inspection services.