FRANKFURT, April 14, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — FRA/rap-th> Frankfurt Airport (FRA), owned and managed by Fraport AG, closed the first quarter of 2010 with a 3.9 percent increase in passenger figures. From January through March 2010, the FRA intercontinental air transportation hub served well over 11.3 million passengers. In March 2010, FRA registered a total of 4.4 million passengers – an 8.3 percent increase year-on-year.
In the airfreight segment FRA recorded 33.5 percent growth for the first three months of the year. In March 2010, cargo throughput rose by 37.4 percent year-on-year and exceeded the 200,000 metric ton mark for the first time in FRA’s history. The new monthly record of 203,308 metric tons represents an increase of about 11,400 metric tons compared to the previous peak month of November 2007. On Sunday, March 14, 2010, FRA achieved a new daily record, when some 8,511 metric tons of airfreight were handled. This figure exceeds by 34 metric tons the previous daily handling record achieved on September 17, 2006.
In the first quarter of 2010, aircraft movements at FRA remained level with the previous year and cumulative maximum takeoff weights (MTOWs) grew by 2.5 percent year-on-year. In March 2010, aircraft movements increased by some 3.0 percent to well over 40,000 takeoffs and landings. Cumulative MTOWs climbed by 4.6 percent to approximately 2.4 million metric tons in March 2010.
“The very high cargo volumes seen in recent months, including the new record highs, are certainly a good indicator for the continuing recovery of the global economy, which should be reflected by further increasing cargo figures,” stated Fraport executive board chairman Dr. Stefan Schulte. Optimistic about the future, Schulte added: “Passenger traffic also has shown distinct growth since the beginning of the year, despite strike-related flight cancellations and difficult weather conditions. It is crucial that this development will achieve sustained stability. This will further stimulate traffic development.”
The Fraport Group’s five majority-owned airports (Frankfurt, Antalya, Lima, Burgas and Varna) received a total of 15.7 million passengers (up 7.7 percent) in the January-to-March 2010 period. In March 2010, the Group welcomed some 6 million passengers, up 12.4 percent year-on-year.
Cargo throughput (airfreight and airmail tonnage) at these airports rose by 30.8 percent in the first quarter of 2010 to approximately 590,000 metric tons, while aircraft movements climbed by 4.2 percent to more than 150,000 takeoffs and landings. Antalya Airport (AYT) in Turkey saw the strongest growth, with passenger traffic surging by 33.2 percent in the first three months of the year. Passenger figures at Bulgaria’s Burgas Airport (up 12.2 percent) and Peru’s Lima Airport (up 10.5 percent) also rose substantially.
