Within the scope of the legally required approval procedures (zoning procedure and regional planning procedure) the planned airport expansion was analyzed and described by numerous external experts, whereby environmental impact was a core issue.
From the point of view of Fraport AG, one general assessment can be derived from the different expert opinions: Airport expansion is compatible with the stringent environmental protection requirements in Germany; however, the required compensatory measures, such as noise abatement and reforestation are very comprehensive and thus costly. In this regard, aircraft noise is the number one environmental issue.
Expansion and development of aircraft noise
Aircraft noise is the greatest environmental problem for airports. This also applies to Frankfurt Airport, which is located in a densely populated conurbation area and features high traffic volumes.
Fraport AG gives maximum priority to fighting aircraft noise. However, as an airport operator we can only indirectly influence aircraft noise nuisance. Aircraft are owned by airlines, and arrival and departure routes are established by the German Air Navigation Services (Deutsche Flugsicherungs GmbH – DFS). Furthermore, takeoff and landing slots at the airport are not allocated by the airport but by a scheduling coordinator appointed by the government. However, the airport, and thus primarily its operating company, is held responsible for aircraft noise nuisance in the region. A constructive approach to curbing aircraft noise nuisance is an integrated aircraft noise management system, which includes all those involved in air traffic.
The future development of aircraft noise impact resulting from airport expansion is a core issue for all involved.
Expansion of the aircraft noise monitoring system
With our aircraft noise monitoring system and our charging policy (i.e., noise-related landing fees) we actively contribute to noise abatement as part of an integrated aircraft noise management policy, which also includes the airlines and DFS.
Concurrently with the expansion of the airport, aircraft noise metering points will be installed around the new runway. These will record the noise impact in this area. An evaluation of the latest data from our aircraft noise monitoring system is regularly published on the Internet and in FRA's Aircraft Noise Report.
Proposed countermeasures
Fraport AG is pursuing a whole range of measures to effectively reduce and avoid aircraft noise. These were already initiated in the past and will be further refined in the future:
- Operation of increasingly quieter aircraft types (> Airlines)
Modern aircraft are quieter. Thus it is in the interest of Fraport that the airlines serving FRA use the newest aircraft types whenever possible.
- Noise-related charging system (> Fraport AG)
Every aircraft landing at FRA must pay a landing fee to Fraport AG. Our charging system favors quiet aircraft and punishes the "noise makers".
- Supporting intermodality (> Fraport AG, Deutsche Bahn AG, Airlines)
Rail and road networks have been better connected at FRA than at any other airport in the world. We promote intermodality at the Frankfurt air transportation hub via major investments and programs.
- Minimum-noise approach and departure routes (> DFS, Noise Abatement Commission)
Deutsche Flugsicherungs GmbH (DFS) establishes the flight routes.
- Passive noise abatement measures (> Fraport AG)
This includes our noise abatement program described in the "Region" section.
Expansion and sources of airport noise
Noise from aircraft taking off and landing is the most significant source of noise at an airport, but by no means the only one. In addition, there is the taxying noise of aircraft on the taxiways and aprons, the noise made by vehicles such as tow trucks, buses, etc. used airside (e.g., on the aprons), the noise emanating from maintenance and airfreight operations and other noise emissions. Expert opinions on airport noise in connection with the airport expansion have investigated and assessed all sources of noise with a view to expansion. They revealed that noise abatement measures are only feasible and effective in the case of engine test runs.
Expansion and air pollution
In addition to aircraft noise, clean air is also a major environmental challenge for airports. Basically, there are three sources of pollutant emissions (i.e., release of contaminants into the atmosphere) at an airport: Aircraft operations (aircraft engines), airport operations (e.g, apron traffic of all kinds or stationary technical systems such as heating plants), and road traffic in the surrounding area caused by the airport.
The expert opinions on air pollution due to airport expansion show that the effects of expansion on air pollution (i.e., the pollution level at certain points) will basically not lead to a deterioration of today's situation: Air pollution around Frankfurt Airport is and will remain relatively low and is below that in downtown Frankfurt.
