Protest LEJ Curfew

Eric Malitzke, GM of LEJ pictured at recent Air Cargo Europe in Munich.     

Everything is set for the big party this Thursday (July 5) as Leipzig/Halle Airport (code: LEJ) celebrates official opening of a new intercontinental runway (3.600m length).
     The new strip enables parallel traffic complimenting the existing northern runway that measures 3.600m as well that had been revamped completely seven years ago.
     Just six days prior to this event, a decision of Leipzig's City Council last Friday has been announced which splits the entire air traffic community and will have enormous impact on the future of the East German airport.
     Leipzig/Halle has been given the green light for unlimited cargo traffic around the clock.
     Leisure and scheduled line haul passenger traffic however, will be restricted by a night curfew that spans from 23:30h to 05:30h.
     The Council's verdict is a reaction to a recent judgment of the German Administrative Court that allowed unlimited operation at LEJ only for aircraft-carrying express shipments.
     “The separation of express shipments and standard air freight is academically, unrealistic and practically not feasible," declared the Council in their public announcement of June 29.
     "While being flown, all goods are transported at an equal velocity, no matter what kind of product the different pieces of cargo consist of." Both ecological as well as economic aspects justify allowing all cargo operations at LEJ 24/7.
     The Council's decision is a plus especially for DHL Express and Lufthansa Cargo.
     Both collaborate very closely and are presently in discussions to establish a new cargo airline as a joint venture with freighters based at LEJ.
     The location has been chosen deliberately because DHL will use the airport as their major European hub for express freight starting this fall.
     Presently, the Deutsche Post courier unit is building a huge sorting center at the southern area of the airport that will be online by the end of October, creating many jobs.
     A drop of bitterness however, spills out of the Council's decision since the imposed night flight ban for all non-cargo operations will hurt the airport.
     "Which influences will have the consequences we still have to evaluate thoroughly," reacted Eric Malitzke, GM of LEJ, immediately after the city made the announcement.
     "Most probably we will have to cancel about 500 flights during the next summer schedule," Malitzke predicts.
     Leisure and scheduled carriers have already protested.
     "The imposed night flight restriction for passenger and charter traffic is a shattering signal for the German aviation business,” criticizes the German Airline Association Bundesverband der Deutschen Fluggesellschaften in reaction to the Council’s announcement.
Heiner Siegmund