In terms of its transportation and economic significance, Frankfurt Airport has long been more than an airport in the classical sense focused only on air traffic. Two examples highlight this especially:
- The development of FRA into an intermodal hub, intelligently networking air traffic with rail and road transportation.
- And the gradual expansion of the airport to become a freight and logistics center, offering complete logistics solutions beyond its core airfreight business.
Thus expansion of Frankfurt Airport is not only aimed at the necessary increase in capacity but also has a qualitative dimension: Innovative services in the mobility, logistics, real estate development, facility management and retail fields are developed and offered here, which can be realized only in connection with the existing local airport infrastructure.
Intermodal transportation hub
By networking air and rail traffic Frankfurt Airport has been a trendsetter for many years. The keyword is multi-modal transportation concepts, the technical term for which is intermodality. The FRA intermodal transportation hub is connected to all transportation systems: Rail, road, and even waterways. A large share of the fuel needed at FRA is brought in via the latter. The airport rail station (today's regional station) went into operation below Terminal 1 as far back as 1972.
THE SQUAIRE
In operation since May 1999, FRA's new high-speed train station (a.k.a AIRail Terminal) has been trailblazing the future of the Frankfurt intermodal transport hub. The high-speed train station connects our airport directly to the European high-speed rail network. Some 150 ICE and long-distance trains serve our main line rail station every day. In 2004, the main line station handled some 4.2 million passengers. In financing the station, we put up some two thirds of the costs – an investment of well over €150 million.
The AIRail Terminal is also the starting point for the new ICE high-speed line to Cologne, connecting the Rhine-Main region with the Rhine-Ruhr region in about one hour. With the further expansion of the high-speed rail network, Frankfurt Airport will become one of Europe's key integrated transportation complexes.
Freight and logistics center
Frankfurt Airport is Europe's most important cargo airport and ranks among the leading cargo airports of the world. In a worldwide comparison by the ACI for 2003, FRA was in eighth place, with a cargo volume of 1.65 million metric tons. At the same time, this ranking also means we were able to maintain our leading position in Europe.
Despite the global economic weakness, FRA was able to achieve air cargo growth of 13.1 percent in 2004, compared to the previous year.
Multifunctional service center
Some 500 companies are currently based at Frankfurt Airport. A large number of them (such as the airlines) are involved in transportation and related services. But a modern airport is today far more than just a provider of transportation infrastructure: In recent years, airports have developed increasingly into multifunctional service centers.
Our airport is a leader in this development, too. One striking example is the retail areas (above all shopping and catering) in the terminals, which are being expanded ever more strongly and promise interesting growth opportunities in the future, too. Another growth sector is real estate development and marketing at the airport, which is very attractive especially for major investment groups. In today's globally interdependent economy, prospering hub airports are not only transportation and infrastructure centers but also the ideal location for many international companies. Fraport AG recognized this trend early on and established its own Real Estate and Facility Management strategic business division.
The FRA economic engine
As the owner and operator of Frankfurt Airport, Fraport AG is responsible for the safe and economic operation of FRA. With a total of 26,000 employees – some 16,500 of which at FRA itself – the Fraport Group is the most important air transportation business in Germany after Lufthansa.
Internationally, too, we count among the leading companies in the airport business. Global privatization of airports favors our international commitment. We are now active at over 50 other locations around the world, whereby we can build on our many years of experience acquired in developing and operating our home base airport. FRA is and remains our reference project, to which we owe our international significance.
