So now: CSU wants 3rd runway at Munich Airport – Free voters angry – “Like satire”

Created: 2022-01-24Updated: 2022-01-24 10:21 am

By: Dirk Walter

The third runway could be built north of the airport.

It is currently on hold.

Graphics: FMG © Munich Airport

Disappointment among the Free Voters.

The construction of the third runway at Munich Airport will continue as part of the state development program.

Munich/Freising

– The Freisinger member of the state parliament Benno Zierer chooses words that one would not believe that as a party member of the Free Voters he is connected with the CSU in a coalition.

The "stubbornness of the CSU" is disappointing, says Zierer.

You are sticking to a “zombie project”, as he calls the plans for the third runway at Munich Airport.

The 65-year-old asserted that he had tried all the levers.

"Unfortunately there was no movement on the part of the CSU*."

Third runway at Munich Airport: CSU wants to continue pursuing the plan

Zierer's anger applies to the realignment of the state development program, LEP for short.

It is a kind of blueprint for the development of the Free State: settlement and spatial structure, economy, energy, culture and others.

The development of Munich Airport is also dealt with under point 4.5.1 B in the chapter on traffic.

There have been two sentences that particularly annoy the runway opponents in the airport region.

"With its capacity, the existing Munich airport is not able to cope with future air traffic demand," it says.

And further: "In order to be able to handle the expected traffic volume in the future, an expansion of the runway capacity by a third runway with the corresponding functional areas is necessary."

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Dispute over the third runway at Munich Airport: Free voters disappointed with the decision

The aim of the Free Voters was now to negotiate away these sentences in the so-called partial update of the LEP, which has now ended.

Since the reformulation of the LEP took place under the leadership of the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs - minister known to be FW boss Hubert Aiwanger - good chances were expected.

But in vain.

"This point was the subject of tough negotiations, including at the highest government level," reports Zierer. But due to the agreement in the coalition agreement - according to which plans for the runway construction "during the current legislative period" should only "not be pursued" - the FW ultimately had no means of enforcing the final end of the project. "I myself had made suggestions several times as to how the disputed points could be deleted or reformulated." But the CSU had not moved an iota. The fact that the LEP continues to state that the airport's capacity is not able to cope with demand reads "like satire" in view of the devastating slump in air traffic during the Corona crisis.

The Greens in the state parliament are also dissatisfied with the LEP update and criticize the runway passage.

"The free voters were ripped off," says parliamentary group leader Ludwig Hartmann.