Frankfurt Airport (FRA) saw an impressive 21.3% increase in the number of travellers passing through its gates in 2023, with nearly 59.4 million people using the airport. Despite this growth, the numbers are still 15.9% lower than in 2019, the pre-pandemic year.
CEO of Fraport, Stefan Schulte, acknowledged that 2023 had been a challenging year for the aviation industry, particularly in Europe. He attributed the challenges to the ongoing Ukraine war and airspace restrictions due to the ‘Air Defender’ NATO exercise in Germany. Strikes by French air traffic controllers also disrupted the international air traffic system.
Schulte noted that despite these challenges, operations at Frankfurt Airport were stabilized, with a 12.6% increase in air traffic and 430,436 takeoffs and landings in 2023. However, the airport experienced a 3.9% decrease in cargo compared to the previous year and a 9.3% decrease compared to 2019.
In December 2023, the airport welcomed nearly 4.6 million passengers, a 15.2% increase compared to 2022. Passenger traffic in December 2023 saw the strongest growth momentum since the pandemic, recovering to 94% of pre-crisis levels. The airport also recorded 33,534 takeoffs and landings in December 2023, an 11.2% increase compared to the previous year.
Additionally, cargo experienced a 7.2% growth in December 2023, reaching 171,118 metric tons, attributed to demand during the Christmas season. Fraport’s international portfolio of airports also experienced an increase in traffic throughout 2023, and despite being below 2019 levels in terms of passenger traffic, the company achieved a net profit of €357.0 million in the first three quarters of 2023, surpassing 2019 levels.
In November 2023, Frankfurt Airport became the first airport in Europe to offer a contactless travel experience to all passengers, using face biometrics for identification from check-in to boarding. This innovative approach to travel will likely continue to enhance the passenger experience at the airport.
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