German Education Minister Annette Schavan was criticized by the opposition 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 flew on a regular plane, the ticket would cost only $496.45 (329 euro). The trip covered 90.72 miles (146 kilometers).

A spokeswoman for Schavan defended her using a government helicopter. "The minister didn't have any alternative other than the air force standby service to make her appointment on time," the spokeswoman was quoted 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 Kurth 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.