Stuttgart Airport has announced new charges for take-off and landing that come into effect today, which actively encourage the use of electric aircraft and alternative fuels.
The new regulations will allow any aircraft powered with electric motors to land free of charge at the airport, which will also be funding the use of electricity-based fuels.
“Stuttgart is the first German airport to incentivise the use of electricity-based fuel and electric aircraft in its charges regulation,” said Dr Arina Freitag, managing director aviation.
“To us, sustainability also means thinking long-term and considering the needs of our stakeholders. For our passengers, we aim to develop our route network sustainably, and for our neighbours, we support quieter planes.”
The use of alternative fuel will be funded by a programme with a total volume of €500,000, while airlines will receive a grant of up to €300 per 1,000 litres alternative fuel.
The airport said its goal for the regulatory adjustments is to incentivise technological development towards climate-friendly aviation and to facilitate the adoption of available innovations.
“It is an urgent matter that flying becomes more climate friendly,” said Walter Schoefer, CEO of Stuttgart Airport. “For us as an infrastructure provider, the new regulation is a way to promote this mission.”
Stuttgart Airport defines alternative aviation fuel as admixable kerosene, which permits a reduction of greenhouse gases by at least 60 percent relative to the replaced quantity of fossil kerosene.
The alternative fuel is made with the aid of hydrogen produced from renewable energy and a renewable carbon source (e.g. cement production).
