Lufthansa axes 20,000 summer flights – what corporate travellers need to know
Germany plans fast-track deportation law; rights groups cry foul
Bundestag hears bill to digitise residence-permit renewals and cut red tape
Latest News
Germany’s Interior Minister doubles down on internal border checks despite legal push-back
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt confirmed on 4 May that Germany will keep its land-border checks in place despite recent court rulings declaring earlier extensions illegal and a sharp fall in asylum applications. The decision prolongs spot controls that complicate cross-border commuting and freight and may expose Germany to EU legal action. Mobility managers should brief travellers to carry extra documentation and factor delays into schedules.
Asylum claims fall but Berlin says border controls will stay ‘for the foreseeable future’
Europa Press and DPA report that Germany will keep internal border checks despite April asylum applications falling almost one-third year-on-year. The announcement signals continued document inspections for business travellers and relocating staff and keeps legal pressure on Berlin ahead of an EU review in September.
Ryanair to close Berlin base, triggering union backlash and fresh job-mobility concerns
Aviation.Direct revealed on 4 May that Ryanair will shut its Berlin Brandenburg crew base, affecting about 300 employees. The pilots’ union says the move is aimed at weakening organised labour, while the airline cites rising German taxes. The closure threatens early-morning connections vital for corporate travellers and reignites the debate on how German labour costs influence airline deployment decisions.
EES, ETA and soon ETIAS: what Germany-bound travellers need to know after 10 April rollout
LiveNOW from FOX explains that the EU’s new biometric Entry/Exit System is now live and will be followed by the ETIAS travel authorisation later this year. For Germany-bound travellers this means longer queues during the learning phase and new pre-departure checks that corporate travel managers must integrate into compliance workflows.
Lufthansa pours €70 million into long-haul ‘Future Onboard Experience’ as strikes and cost pressure bite
DPA reports that Lufthansa will spend €70 million to refresh long-haul in-flight service in all cabins under its ‘FOX’ concept. The move aims to keep premium travellers loyal amid strikes and rising fuel costs, but unions say the money would be better spent on resolving labour disputes. Corporate travel buyers should expect upgraded amenities – and potentially higher fares – on key intercontinental routes.