TUI fly (Germany) (X3, Hannover) could be forced to terminate its Zweibrücken operations following reports the airport is now facing bankruptcy. German paper, Die Rheinpfalz, said in a report that a European Commission investigation has found that EUR56million (USD75.6million) in subsidies extended the airport by local authorities since 2006 have in fact violated European state aid laws.
A small regional airport in Germany's south-western Rhineland-Palatinate located just 30km away from Saarbrücken, Zweibrücken allegedly used the subsidies to reduce airport charges for carriers such as germanwings (4U, Cologne/Bonn), TUIfly and Ryanair (FR, Dublin International) thereby giving the airlines an undue economic advantage over their competitors.
As a result of the ruling, EU Competition Commissioner, Joaquin Almunia, said the EC will move to recuperate the funds, a move which will likely render the airport bankrupt.
Other German media outlets have speculated that the airport could close before the end of the current summer high season.
The ch-aviation route database shows TUIfly currently serves Ankara Esenboga, Antalya, Fuerteventura, Irakleion, Gran Canaria, Palma de Mallorca, Rhodes International, and Tenerife Sur from Zweibrücken. Pegasus Airlines (PC, Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen) also operates four weekly B737-800 services linking Zweibrücken with Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen.
