January 2003 - Fra Traffic Figures: Frankfurt Airport Achieves Further Passenger Growth / Cargo Tonnage Also Increases - Airlines Deploy Larger Aircraft Again

12.02.2003, 15:13

Frankfurt, Germany 12. 2. 2003 (PROTEXT/ots) - In January2003, Frankfurt Airport's (FRA) traffic figures continued theupward trend of the past months and showed noticeable increasesin all important traffic segments. Fraport AG registered 3.5million passengers in January 2003, seven percent more than inthe corresponding month last year. As expected, high growthrates could be achieved in those markets most severely hit bythe slump in demand during 2002: for example, destinations inthe Dominican Republic, the Canary Islands, and inexpensiveleisure travel destinations in Turkey and Egypt.Intercontinental traffic also climbed strongly, driven by growthon routes to and from the Middle East, North Africa, and NorthAmerica. Passenger traffic to the Far East also registeredincreases in January, with China and India being the strongestmarkets.

Continuing the upward trend of 2002, FRA's cargo tonnage alsogrew briskly. In January 2003, cargo traffic increased by 5.2percent to 110,869 metric tons. Expansion of servicesparticularly in Far East traffic resulted in robust growth of16.7 percent. The amount of cargo transported over the Atlanticalso increased strongly. With 11,565 metric tons in January2003, airmail traffic experienced a 6.4-percent decline versusthe same period in 2002. The approximate 10-percent drop ininternational airmail in January was the reason for thisdecline.

With 37,570 take-offs and landings, Fraport AG recorded fivepercent growth in aircraft movements at FRA in January 2003. Twofactors contributed to this significant increase: firstly, thelow statistical base in the same month last year; secondly, theairlines expanded their flight offerings for the WinterTimetable 2002/2003. Because the airlines deployed largeraircraft, the Maximum Take-off Weights (MTOWs) climbed again toabout two million metric tons, up 6.7 percent over the samemonth in 2002. Frankfurt Airport's Traffic Figures for January 2003

January 2002

Change2

Jan. 03/Jan. 02 Passengers in millions

3,527,210

7.0 % Airfreight in thousands of metric tons 110,869

5.2 % Airmail in thousands of metric tons

11,565

-6.4 % Aircraft Movements1 in thousands

37,570

5.0 % MTOWs in thousands of metric tons 2,048,909

6.7 % Punctuality share of punctual arrivals and departures in percent

65.7 1 Excluding military flights 2 Change over previous year

For More Information, Please Contact: Fraport AG FrankfurtAirport Services Worldwide Attn: Robert A. Payne - ManagerInternational Press 60547 Frankfurt am Main, Germany Tel.: +49 69690 -78547 / Fax: +49 69 690 -60548 E-Mail:r.payne@fraport.de / Internet: www.fraport.com

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