Study: Leipzig/Halle Airport has a good image

According to a Forsa survey, Leipzig/Halle Airport has a good image among the population. According to the survey, 71 percent of respondents consider the airport to be more of an asset, while only seven percent consider it to be "more of a nuisance". The rest said "neither" or did not know the answer. The highest approval ratings were recorded in the districts of Leipzig (78 percent) and Saalekreis (73 percent).

1059 people from the cities of Halle and Leipzig and the districts of Leipzig, North Saxony and Saalekreis took part in the survey conducted on behalf of Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG (MFAG) between June 24 and July 5. They were asked about the importance of the airport and their attitude towards expansion plans and noise protection. In the survey, 89 percent of people living around the airport recognized the importance of the airport as a driver of economic development.

"We have broad support from the population, but we have also been given some homework to do," said CEO Götz Ahmelmann, summarizing the attitude of the population in the region. In future, the aim is to improve transparency and communication, but also to increase the range of services for passengers. Ahmelmann emphasized that talks are underway to this end.

In addition, a majority support the airport's expansion plans. 57 percent were open to the planned expansion, 27 percent had reservations and the rest had no opinion. Eight percent of respondents felt frequently disturbed by aircraft noise, 20 occasionally and 70 rarely. MFAG plans to invest 500 million euros in modernization and expansion. Leipzig/Halle is one of the largest cargo airports in Europe. According to the operator, more than 13,000 people are currently employed at the airport and by local companies and authorities.