Frankfurt Passenger Traffic Up for 2012, Airport Sees Record 57.5 Million Passengers

A Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 at FRA

Fraport AG, the operator of Frankfurt Airport, reported a 1.9% increase in passenger traffic and a record 57.5 million passengers for 2012 despite several strikes and the cancellation of over 3,000 flights.

The number of aircraft movements for 2012 was down by 1% to 482,242.

For December, passenger traffic was down 6.3% compared to December 2011 with four million passengers.  In addition, the number of aircraft movements at FRA reached 34,425, 10.2% below the December 2011 figure.  The reduction in flight movements was accompanied by a seat load factor that went up by 2% to 73.8%.

The year 2012 was somewhat tumultuous at Frankfurt Airport.  Multiple strikes by airport and airline workers too place.  In February Union of Air Traffic Controllers (GdF), which also represents ground workers at Frankfurt Airport (FRA), announced a strike, which resulted in over 400 cancelled flights.  Later in the year, the Unabhängige Flugbegleiter Organisation (UFO), the union that represents the majority of Lufthansa’s flight attendants, conducted several strikes that resulted in the cancellation of thousands of flights.

Frankfurt Airport reported a 6.7% reduction in cargo for 2012, with 2.1 million metric tons of cargo passing through the airport.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)