Frankfurt approaches 10 per cent loss

IT had better get used to it – Frankfurt Airport has posted a 9.3 per cent slump in October freight volumes as the night-flight ban kicks in.
The fall to 187,000 metric tonnes follows year-on-year declines of 5.3 per cent in September and 6.8 per cent in August.
The airport, which has just opened its fourth runway, has been banned from allowing flights to operate between 23:00 and 05:00 since 31 October. The ruling will remain in place until at least March next year when the federal court is due to deliver a final ruling.
Frankfurt cargo tonnage in the first nine months of 2011 was down 0.5 per cent, or approximately 9,000 tonnes, from last year’s record, at 1.67 million tonnes.
Fraport, the owner of Frankfurt, has seen cargo volumes for the month tumble at its majority-owned airports Frankfurt, Antalya (Turkey), Lima (Peru) and Varna and Burgas (both Bulgaria) by 7.3 per cent at 220,000 tonnes.
“Because of the overall downward trend in the cargo sector, Fraport expects a slight decline in cargo throughput at Frankfurt for the entire fiscal year 2011,” Fraport said.
Fraport’s third quarter revenue grew 7.1 per cent from a year ago to US$905 million and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization were 9.8 per cent higher at $391.5 million.
In related news due to a hike in demand Finnair Cargo will introduce additional freighter flights between Helsinki (Finland) and Frankfurt (Germany) starting on 23 November using an MD-11F aircraft with 90,000kg capacity.