Momentum for Realizing Frankfurt Airport's Planned A380 Maintenance Base Grows: Hesse Administrative High Court Overrules Mörfelden-Walldorf's Attempt to Block

FRANKFURT (Germany) 26th November (PROTEXT) - Momentum forrealizing Frankfurt Airport's planned A380 maintenance basecontinues to grow, following today's decision from the Hesseadministrative high court in Kassel and last Friday's 'immediateenforcement' decision from the Darmstadt district board. TheHesse administrative high court has overruled a law suit filed bythe Town of Mörfelden-Walldorf (located directly south of FRA),which claimed Fraport (FSE:FRA) was legally bound not to expandinto the buffer forest between FRA and the town. Most of the 20-hectare site proposed for the A380 maintenance base lies withinthe existing airport boundary. Fraport AG, the owner and managerof Frankfurt Airport (FRA), is optimistic about the timelyrealization of this strategic project by the autumn of 2007. Thefacility is necessary for the stationing and operation ofLufthansa's future A380 fleet at FRA, the first of which arescheduled to go into service in 2007. The final zoning decisionon the A380 project - which provides the necessary buildingpermit for the project - is expected soon. 'Today's court verdictalso confirms the regional assembly of South Hesse's recentmajority-vote decision that recognized the urgent need forbuilding the A380 base on this proposed site,' said Fraport AGexecutive board vice-chairman Prof. Manfred Schölch. 'Once zoningapproval has been granted, the A380 maintenance base project canbe expeditiously implemented. Nevertheless, we will not proceedwith irreversible construction before the Hesse administrativehigh court has had the opportunity adequately to examine urgentpetitions expected to be filed against the Darmstadt districtboard's decision on immediate enforcement,' Schölch explained.This, however, must not affect the right to conduct siteinspection measures such as surveying, explosive ordinancedisposal (EOD), and drilling bore samples to determine exact soilconditions.

Last Friday, with the consent of Hesse Ministry of Economics,Transportation and Regional Development, the Darmstadt districtboard ordered 'immediate enforcement' of the granted changes tothe South Hesse Regional Plan for construction of the A380maintenance base. The district board said that construction ofthe A380 maintenance base was essential for ensuring

Frankfurt Airport's competitiveness as well as theFrankfurt/Rhine-Main region's economic prominence and vitality.The A380 maintenance base is also a key element in Fraport'sstrategy for positioning Frankfurt Airport as one of the mainintercontinental hubs for serving superjumbo traffic in the yearsto come. The A380 will be vital for helping Fraport meet thegrowing demand for passenger and cargo capacity at continentalEurope's busiest airport. With the mammoth A380, FRA will beable to achieve a higher average number of passengers peraircraft as well as an increase in MTOW tonnage (Maximum TakeoffWeights). The Airbus A380 is expected to carry some 555passengers.

For More Information, Please Contact:Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services WorldwideRobert A. Payne, B.A.A. - Manager International PressPress Office (Dept. UKM-PS), Corporate Communications (UKM) 60547 Frankfurt am Main, Federal Republic of Germany Tel.: +49 69.690.78547; Fax: +49.69.690.60548;E-mail: r.payne@fraport.de; Internet: www.fraport.com

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