Frankfurt Airport sees cargo volumes rise 32pc in Q1

GERMANY's Fraport AG based at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) has recorded a 32.2 per cent increase in airfreight in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year to hit one million tons of cargo.

First half passenger figures also saw a 1.4 per cent increase, with 24.5 million passengers using the airport.

"Indeed, three new June monthly traffic records were achieved. Frankfurt Airport welcomed more passengers, handled more airfreight, and registered more MTOWs (maximum takeoff weights) then in any previous June in FRA's history," a statement from airport authorities said.

Frankfurt Airport served 4,851,896 passengers, up seven per cent; and handled 192,508 tons of airfreight, up 29.9 per cent year on year in June. MTOWs hit 2,449,797 tons, up 4.8 per cent; and the number of aircraft movements climbed by 2.7 per cent to 41,159 takeoffs and landings.

Fraport executive board chairman Stefan Schulte said: "These numbers convincingly show that the finance and economic crisis has been overcome and that the aviation industry, despite several small traffic blips, is back on track to reaching and even exceeding the results of the pre-crisis years."

In response to the German government's proposal, Dr Schulte said: "Balancing the German federal budget is important and appropriate. But if the aviation industry has to contribute to this task, which we think is wrong because air transportation is self-financing and receives no subsidies, then the proposed ecological tax should be considerably reduced and should not cover air cargo and transfer passenger traffic.

"Otherwise, air transportation with its excellent global network, which is absolutely crucial for Germany's export-driven commerce and industry, will be continuously weakened," said Dr Schulte.
(Source:www.schednet.com)