The winter chill has arrived — and with it, silence at Kassel-Calden Airport. Hesse’s second-largest airport has effectively gone into hibernation, grounding nearly all flights until spring.
During last winter, only six planes took off or landed between November and February. This year, things look even quieter: the airport has no active winter schedule at all. Normally, new timetables begin in late October, just as at Frankfurt. But this November, only one special flight to Madeira appeared on the board.
After inquiries from journalists, several holiday charter flights were suddenly added — supposedly to Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and Fuerteventura. The first is planned for December 20, with more departures from January 2026 onward.
There’s just one problem: the airline listed, Fischer Reisen, doesn’t yet hold a valid operating license from German aviation authorities. On its own website, the Czech carrier admits it won’t be certified before 14 February 2026 — after its first Kassel flight is scheduled to depart.
Airport management hopes for a delayed comeback
Airport CEO Lars Ernst said in a written statement that management is “counting on Fischer Reisen and a few special-charter operations.” He expects the delayed winter schedule to merge directly into the summer 2026 program by late March — if airlines actually sign up.
Until then, the terminal — a 9,000 square-meter facility with ten check-in counters, three security lanes and capacity for 700,000 passengers a year — will remain mostly empty.
Last year, just 82,983 travellers used Kassel-Calden, barely twelve percent of its potential.
A costly “sleep mode” for taxpayers
Built at a cost of €280 million, Kassel-Calden has never turned a profit since opening in 2013. The airport loses roughly €5 million every year, equal to €14,000 a day — all paid by taxpayers.
Ownership is split between the State of Hesse (68 %), the City and District of Kassel (14.5 % each) and the municipality of Calden (3 %).
Despite the investment, no regular flights are planned for the coming winter months. The airport’s “rest period” will likely continue until at least spring 2026.
Airlines keep their distance
Several carriers have already pulled out of negotiations. Among them: Ryanair.
The Irish low-cost giant initially showed interest but ultimately chose Saarbrücken over Kassel after “tough and demanding” talks failed to reach a deal.
That decision left Kassel-Calden — once promoted as Hesse’s gateway to the world — facing another quiet season, with its runways more likely to see snow than airplanes.
Outlook: spring revival or final descent?
Airport officials insist the lull is temporary, calling it a “seasonal pause.” Critics, however, see it as another sign of chronic underuse.
If no major carrier steps in by next summer, Kassel-Calden may become Germany’s most expensive regional ghost airport — one that costs millions simply to keep the lights on.
