Air Service One talks with…… Marcel Schütz, Director Aviation/Deputy Accountable Manager, Memmingen Airport.
Air Service One caught up with Marcel Schütz, Director Aviation/Deputy Accountable Manager, Memmingen Airport to find out more about one of Germany’s leading low-cost airports. We found out the airport’s successes and difficulties.
And as always, being Air Service One talks with…. we also threw in a few fun questions for Marcel.
Memmingen Airport is one of the few in Germany which has completely recovered its passenger traffic compared to 2019 levels and has surpassed that figure. What has been the main driving forces behind such a rapid recovery?
First of all, we were always very cost focused with our goal to have Germany’s leading low costs as our airline customers, and being profitable which we manage on both counts. The second fact is the diverse portfolio of destinations and customers, as well as a great catchment of more than 11 million people that offer 365 days of demand.
FMM is known for its flexibility and creativity!
How many passengers is Memmingen Airport forecasting to handle this year?
We expect to surpass the 3 million mark this year and even a bit more.
Memmingen Airport is both a Ryanair and Wizz Air base. How do you manage to keep the two carriers happy, considering ULCCs are known for being demanding?
Like our customers, that don’t offer business class and “other services” as Michael O’Leary once stated, but are focused on their core business and additional revenues – airports should go the same way and clearly focus on a business model instead of serving all kinds of businesses being stuck in the middle at the end.
Having a transparent strategic position helps being successful – FMM the leading low-cost airport in Germany surrounded by high-cost alternative options. Airlines searching for an easy, smooth and no-frills access to the Munich Metropolitan Area, the Alps or Southern Germany just use Memmingen.
Wizz Air has been forced to significantly reduce operations throughout its network this year due to engine inspections on its A320neo-family fleet. Has this impacted their traffic at Memmingen Airport?
As Wizz had to adjust their whole network, Memmingen did not see the growth that was expected at first. Nevertheless, network coverage is constant, and we just have to be a bit patient to see the planes fly again at FMM and the whole Wizz network.
Memmingen Airport is primarily a low-cost and leisure airport. Do you see potential in attracting full-service legacy carriers and is this something Memmingen Airport is aspiring to achieve?
As mentioned already, we are clearly committed and focused on offering simple travel, with easy access and processing costs being low. Connecting traffic and hub access are always a goal to increase the region’s connectivity, but we would aim for low-cost subsidiaries like AJet or Transavia to match our strategy as we don’t have red carpets available.
Memmingen Airport operates in a very competitive environment. What are some of the benefits for airlines to fly to Memmingen over other nearby airports in Germany?
Memmingen not only offers attractive costs compared to other German airports, but has easy road access to Munich, Western Austria, Eastern Switzerland and Baden-Württemberg.
Access to high incomes and a dense population make FMM attractive and easy access to the Alps is pushing inbound traffic especially in winter. Being between three high cost, and some 5-star, airports, we just have to be different and offer what they can’t within their corporate structure – we just keep it simple.
Could you tell us more about Memmingen Airport’s terminal expansion?
FMM will increase its terminal capacity step by step to allocate more gates, more passengers but also to meet higher security standards. We have a 5-year plan to match with the growth expectations of our main customers and plans beyond.
Air Service Fun:
What was your most memorable flight and why?
In a glider plane as part of our management team training – Leadership inspired by Airmanship
Favourite airline livery?
No matter which livery but I don’t like dirty planes.
Was it always going to be aviation or was there another career path opportunity?
Being 18 years with FMM, from day one of my career, there is no need to answer this question. But if not aviation, it would have been medicine.
Favourite movie of all time?
Every movie is good as long as it has to do with planes.
Favourite unusual fact about Memmingen or surrounding area?
Just come and have a look, there are so many unique things.
Favourite place to visit abroad and why?
So many – but I can tell you I want to go to Hawaii to make it my new favourite place.
