Frankfurt Airport Requires Hundreds of Extra Security Staff for New Baggage Screening Procedures All "Hold Baggage" Will Be X-rayed Effective January 2003

Frankfurt, Germany 19.12.2002 (PROTEXT/ots) - EffectiveJanuary 1, 2003, Frankfurt Airport (FRA) will implement 100-percent screening of hold baggage (check-in baggage) as part ofnew international regulations affecting all European airports.These new procedures require enormous personnel and technicalresources. At FRA, this means that approximately 750 moresecurity specialists (in shift operations) will be required tostaff the 40 new X-ray control stations located in bothterminals. They will be employed by Fraport AG, the airportoperator, which is mandated by the German Federal Border Police(Bundesgrenzschutz) to provide this aspect of airport securityat FRA. At Frankfurt Airport, the required 100-percent screening ofhold baggage will usually take place in front of the check-incounters. However, the procedure will also be implemented afterthe passenger has checked in his baggage, further down the so-called "baggage handling chain". In such instances, screeningwill be done at specific exit points where baggage leaves theairport's centralized automated baggage handling system.Deployment of the additional X-ray machines depends on the spaceavailable in the terminals. For all airlines, the same high security standards willcontinue to apply. If the baggage item being screened cannot beclassified as absolutely free of any possible danger, then ithas to be opened for further inspection. However, due tooperational reasons, it will not always be possible to conductsuch inspections in the presence of the passenger or owner ofthe baggage item. Nevertheless, these manual inspections willalways take place in the presence of at least two persons. Thenew hold-baggage procedures have been developed in closecooperation with the responsible authorities. In this context,Fraport AG advises passengers to avoid using padlocks, oftenplaced on travel bags, that cannot be opened without causingdamage to the lock. From January 2003, Fraport AG advises passengers to arrive atthe airport earlier so that they have more time for checking in.This will save passengers unnecessary stress for themselves andothers before flight departure. ots Original Text Service:Fraport AG Internet: http://www.presseportal.de For MoreInformation, Please Contact: Fraport AG Frankfurt AirportServices Worldwide Attn: Robert A. Payne - Manager InternationalPress 60547 Frankfurt am Main, Germany Tel.: +49 69.690.78547Fax: +49.69.690.60548 E-Mail: r.payne@fraport.de Internet:www.fraport.com

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