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No flights to Heligoland: travelers have to switch to ferries!
Helgoland is struggling with a lack of flight connections. Instead, travelers have to rely on ferries until new aircraft are approved.
No flights to Heligoland: travelers have to switch to ferries!
The popular North Sea island of Heligoland is facing an uncertain summer season in 2025. The reason for this is the temporary suspension of air traffic by Ostfriesischer Flug-dienst GmbH (OFD). No aircraft is currently allowed to take off as the new, modern Tecnam P2006T aircraft are still waiting for approval from the Federal Aviation Authority. The old Britten-Norman BN-2 Islanders have now been retired, making travel more difficult. How moin.de reported, travelers will have to resort to shipping until the new machines are released.
There are currently several ships available from the port of Cuxhaven to pave the way for visitors to the island. Among other things, the seaside resort ship “Helgoland” takes passengers to the island in around 2.5 hours, while the catamaran “Nordlicht” completes the route in around 75 minutes. The “Halunder Jet” from Hamburg is also a popular connection. However, travelers must be patient, because with no flights, traveling over water becomes the only way to reach Heligoland.
Flight connection in sight again?
As if that wasn't enough, the new Tecnam P2006T aircraft, which were originally scheduled to be used at the start of the 2025 season, have already been delivered, but their certification has not yet been granted. The approval process at the Federal Aviation Office is dragging on, and the OFD does not expect a positive outcome before the end of July 2025. Until then, travelers will have to rely on the ferries. The CO-CEO of Ostfriesische Flug-dienst GmbH, which is in constant communication with the authorities, states that a return to the old fleet is impossible because the inventory of spare parts for the old machines has been reduced. This creates additional uncertainty for the peak travel season.
The new aircraft only offer space for four passengers plus a pilot, which is a step backwards compared to the previous aircraft with ten seats. Despite these adversities, Helgoland remains a popular destination, especially in the summer season when numerous shipping companies operate the route. In previous years, this small island was a magnet for tourists who wanted to enjoy the sea air and untouched nature. But without flights, vacationers may have to rethink their travel plans.
Alternative routes of arrival
For those who would like to visit Helgoland, the website of Helgoland tourism services Comprehensive support when traveling and also when looking for accommodation. The journey time from the mainland to Heligoland is usually 20 to 30 minutes, but in winter the journey is limited to the port of Cuxhaven.
Helgoland is now faced with the challenge of remaining attractive for travel even in turbulent times. With summer approaching, it will be exciting to see whether the new aircraft will be approved in time to allow travelers to travel by plane again.