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Berlin (dpa) - Good news for German airports: with a large majority, the federal states have approved a federal proposal for corona aid amounting to one billion euros.

The German press agency learned this on Thursday from participants in the finance ministers' conference.

Accordingly, 14 out of 16 federal states voted in favor of the proposal, which goes back to Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) and provides for funding from federal and state governments in equal proportions.

Airport assistance already provided should be taken into account.

The ball is now back in the playing field of Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD).

He now has to release the federal government's share of 500 million euros.

This aid is not yet planned in the current federal budget.

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"Our airports, like all airports worldwide, have had a catastrophic year behind them - and that completely through no fault of their own," said Bavaria's Finance Minister Albert Füracker (CSU) of the dpa in Munich.

The federal government must therefore also do justice to its task and help the airports as a cornerstone of the transport infrastructure through the difficult times.

"Airports are not only gateways to the world and a symbol of freedom, they are also central trading hubs and employers for many thousands of people."

According to the industry association ADV, the location of the airports is extremely tense after the corona-related decrease in passengers of almost three quarters last year.

At least one in four jobs is directly threatened and several operating companies are struggling to survive.

For the years 2020 and 2021, the expected loss is estimated at 3 billion euros.

The airports argue, among other things, with around 740 million euros in reserve costs that they incurred during the first lockdown in spring 2020 when the airport infrastructure was kept open, as desired by politicians.

In November, the state transport ministers approved the plan initiated by Scheuer in principle.

However, before the funds were released, the federal government reportedly insisted on commitments from the finance ministers for co-financing.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210128-99-206759 / 2