UAE Gains Expanded Air Traffic Rights to Germany, Paving Way for Emirates Berlin Flights

Germany's federal government has granted the United Arab Emirates additional traffic rights, allowing a UAE national airline to serve a fifth German destination. The agreement was announced on Thursday evening. The UAE can now use the rights flexibly in the long term, according to the government.

While no airline or airport was named in the official announcement, it is widely expected that Emirates will use the new rights for flights from Berlin. Berlin's governing mayor, Kai Wegner, said Emirates will be able to offer daily long-haul flights from BER Airport. He posted a photo showing the president of the Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, handing him a model of an Emirates jet. Wegner said daily Emirates flights from Berlin to Dubai would bring two growing economic regions closer together.

The government said the number of flights to the four existing German destinations would be capped at the current level for that airline. Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger told DPA that flights to the fifth airport would be limited as well, though details were not specified in the extract.

The change could affect competitors, but the report does not name them. Emirates has not yet commented publicly.