Construction of A380 Maintenance Base at Frankfurt Airport

Lufthansa will need more maintenance capacity when its new A380 fleet takes to the air at the beginning of 2008. On October 31, 2005, Fraport handed over to Lufthansa Technik – under a 65 year land-use agreement – the cleared site for construction of a new A380 maintenance base at the southern side of Frankfurt Airport. For the projected A380 overhaul base a total space of approximately 25 hectares is required. The implementation of the first construction phase of the maintenance facility, apron, storage facility and underground rain water retention basin has now been completed. The opening ceremony took place on January 11, 2008. Fraport and Lufthansa concluded a utilization contract for a period of 65 years for the real estate in the south of FRA. Lufthansa will invest some €150 millions in the A380 maintenance base at its Frankfurt home base.

The complete maintenance facility will be about 350 meters long, 45 meters high and 140 meters wide. Its construction will secure or create as many as 2,000 jobs up to the year 2015.

Lufthansa, Fraport's main customer, has ordered 15 new A380s as the future "flagships" of its fleet. The first four Lufthansa planes with seating capacity for 555 passengers are schedule to commence regular service at Frankfurt Airport in the summer of 2009.