German Minister Criticized For Costly Chopper Ride

August 19, 2008 7:17 p.m. EST

Berlin, Germany (AHN) - German Education Minister Annette Schavan is catching criticism for riding a military chopper instead of flying on a regular airline. For her trip to Zurich from Stuttgart to have a newspaper interview, German taxpayers had to shell out $39,179.

If she had flown on a regular plane, the ticket would cost only $496 (329 euros). The trip covered about 90 miles (146 kilometers).

A spokeswoman for Schavan defended her use of a government helicopter for the occasion. "The minister didn't have any alternative other than the air force standby service to make her appointment on time," the spokeswoman was quoted as saying by Bild Am Sonntag.

Undine Kurth of the opposition Green Party agreed the air force chopper is a good way to ferry government officials to vital functions, but maintained Schavan's newspaper interview and speech were not exceptional circumstances.

Schavan is one of the original cabinet members German Chancellor Angela Merkel appointed in October 2005.