Munich Airport Flights Draw Protests Over Proposed 'Deportation Terminal'
munich airport flights have become a flashpoint after plans emerged for a dedicated deportation terminal at Munich International Airport that could process up to 100 removals per day and 36, 500 per year, sparking a wave of public opposition.
Munich Airport Flights and the deportation terminal plan
Airport officials are drawing up final plans for a terminal meant to move federal deportations out of the passenger terminals and out of public view. The facility would handle 36, 500 removals a year, a figure the airport says would expand capacity well beyond current levels. Presently, deportations in Bavaria were handled through ordinary passenger areas; under the new plan, those operations would shift to a separate, dedicated building.
Planned terminal would mean a 900% increase in removals
The proposed capacity represents a 900% increase over the 2, 750 deportations that took place across all of Bavaria in 2024 and would be 37% higher than the 20, 000 removals registered across Germany in 2024. Plans were first raised last summer and are now being finalised for presentation to the supervisory board of the airport's owner by the end of Q1 2026. If approved, construction would proceed with a target completion in 2028 and the airport expects to rent the facility to the federal government for around €4 million per year.
Opposition mounts as protests are planned
Left-wing groups and unions say they fear Munich could become a deportation hub for other European countries as well as for Germany. Campaigners point to Munich's self-styled status as a "safe haven" and note that the Munich city council holds nearly a quarter of the airport's shares. Public protests are expected to get under way later this month. Katharina Grote of the Bavarian Refugee Council said, "Munich must send a clear signal: Human rights must also be defended under pressure, " and called for city officials to reject the terminal during the local election campaign.
Travel chaos across Germany: 14 cancellations and more than 200 delays
At the same time, travelers across Germany have faced severe disruption: airlines recorded 14 cancellations and more than 200 delays affecting routes through Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf and Berlin. The disruptions affected both international and domestic services and left passengers stranded at major hubs. Specific cancellation counts named include 2 from Lufthansa Cityline, 1 from Lufthansa, 1 from Air Canada and 1 from Brussels Airlines, while other carriers such as Air Baltic and KLM also reported cancellations.
The twin developments have put attention on operations at Munich International Airport in two very different ways: the deportation terminal plan has prompted organised political opposition ahead of a supervisory board review by the end of Q1 2026, while widespread flight delays and cancellations have produced immediate travel headaches for passengers using Munich and other German airports this week.
Next steps are clear and scheduled: protesters plan demonstrations later this month, and the airport's supervisory board will consider the final terminal plans by the end of Q1 2026; if the board approves, construction would be scheduled to finish in 2028 and the facility would then be rented to the federal government for around €4 million per year. Travelers affected by the cancellations and delays have been urged to check with their airlines for updates on rebooking and timing.
