Fraport AG Regards Increasing Coordinated Aircraft Movements as Possible and Sensible
Frankfurt, Germany (ots)
Thanks to the cooperative efforts of all involved, Frankfurt Airport (airport code = FRA) has been able to handle necessary additional U.S. military transport flights temporarily during July and August - without any major disturbances. Fraport AG's Executive Board Chairman Dr. Wilhelm Bender explained how the experience of these weeks has demonstrated that there are still capacity reserves to be utilized in the entire complex FRA system, without affecting punctuality and quality.
Because of the continuing demand from airlines for extra take-off and landing times, Fraport is moving ahead with procedures to increase FRA's so-called coordinated aircraft movements from the current 78 aircraft movements per hour to 80 per hour, by the spring of 2002. Depending on the aircraft mix, traffic operations, and weather conditions, this official traffic value is already clearly exceeded at times: last year's hourly record of 97 take-offs and landings was achieved on September 27, 2000.
Due to construction work at Ramstein Air Base (west of FRA), the U.S. Air Force had to divert 25 to 30 flights per day to FRA between July 22 and August 13. Fears that the additional military flights would affect operations at Germany's largest airport proved to be unfounded, thanks to the smooth coordination between Fraport AG, DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung (responsible for air traffic control and navigation services in Germany) and the U.S. Air Force.
Contact:
Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide
Robert A. Payne - Manager International Press
60547 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Phone +49 69 690 78547 (with voice mailbox)
Fax +49 69 690 60548
E-mail: r.payne@fraport.de
Internet: www.fraport.de (click on "Press Lounge")