Frankfurt Airport is not only the largest air hub in Germany, but also one of the most important cargo handling points in Europe. While passenger traffic has not yet returned to pre-crisis levels due to various challenges, the cargo sector remains a stable growth factor for the airport. At a time when demand for cargo capacity is increasing, the operator Fraport is focusing on long-term expansion and investments to secure its leading position in the European cargo market.
Although passenger traffic at airports around the world is still struggling with the consequences of the pandemic and other geopolitical challenges, freight traffic in Frankfurt is a positive exception. According to the latest information from airport operator Fraport, freight traffic handled in 2024 will be around seven percent higher than the previous year's level. This represents an important aspect of business development, especially against the backdrop of the difficult market conditions in the passenger business.
Frankfurt remains the leading European cargo hub, and airport operator Fraport expects throughput to be between 2024 and 2,1 million tons in 2,2. This is just below the record level of 2,3 million tons reached in 2021 - a period marked by the Corona crisis and the associated special boom in cargo traffic. Despite the overall economic uncertainties, Frankfurt Airport is therefore robust and well positioned.
Long-term growth targets: 3 million tons as medium-term target
Fraport is committed to further growth in the cargo sector and has clear goals for the future. In the long term, the airport is aiming for an annual throughput of 3 million tons. This is an ambitious figure that underlines the enormous potential of the Frankfurt location. The airport benefits not only from its central location in Europe, but also from the excellent infrastructure that enables the quick and efficient handling of cargo.
Pierre Dominique Prümm, Executive Board Member of Fraport AG, explained that there is a great demand for additional space for cargo handling. While the existing capacities and cargo halls can still be optimized, in the medium term they are no longer sufficient to meet the increasing demands. The expansion of the existing infrastructure is therefore of crucial importance in order to achieve the ambitious growth targets.
Investments and Expansion: A New Area for the Future
A crucial step in the expansion of the Frankfurt freight market is the planned expansion of the airport in the area of Cargo City South. Here, Lufthansa Cargo is planning an investment of around 600 million euros to expand the existing freight center and increase capacity. This investment represents an important building block for the future of Frankfurt Airport as an international freight center. But this expansion is only an intermediate step.
In the medium term, the airport will be investing in another site to the north of the airport grounds. New cargo buildings are to be built on the former site of the Ticona chemical plant, for which a valid development plan already exists. Up to 150.000 square meters of additional hall space could be created here. This expansion would enable Frankfurt Airport to remain the European market leader in the field of cargo transport in the coming years.
The importance for the region and European logistics
The investment and growth in the cargo sector is important not only for the airport itself, but also for the entire region and the European logistics industry. Frankfurt Airport is an important hub for international trade and the expansion of cargo capacity will help to ensure the region's competitiveness as a logistics hub. The airport plays a central role in the global delivery network and enables the rapid transport of goods and commodities across the globe.
In addition, the creation of additional jobs in the freight sector will also strengthen the economic importance of the airport for the region. Freight traffic creates a large number of jobs in the areas of logistics, storage and transport and thus contributes to economic stability in Frankfurt and the surrounding area.
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