Aida, the leading German cruise company, anticipates continued strong bookings despite the current crisis in the Middle East. According to Aida’s CEO, Felix Eichhorn, cruising remains a major driver of growth within the broader tourism market. He projects that Aida will experience stronger performance in 2026 compared to 2025.
Eichhorn noted that the growth rate of the cruise sector is exceeding that of domestic tourism. While the total number of customers is lower than pre-pandemic levels, the cruise industry has taken on 30 percent more passengers than in 2019. However, he cautioned that the primary challenge is currently the limited availability of cabins for numerous short-term sailings.
Looking ahead, the CEO stated that the industry is poised to exceed the four million guest mark annually. He clarified that the limiting factor will not be demand, but rather the capacity of the available fleet.
Regarding operational costs, Eichhorn announced that the company will not impose retroactive fuel surcharges on cruises. He explained that while hedging contracts help manage costs during crises, they can also be detrimental if fuel prices drop. He emphasized that Aida is not currently using fuel hedging, asserting that fuel represents a significantly smaller percentage of overall costs compared to the aviation industry.
