Traffic demand shown in the documents submitted for the zoning procedure was based on forecasts made in 2000 for the year 2015.  As a result of the public hearing on airport expansion the zoning authority requested that traffic forecasts be updated and the forecast horizon be expanded to the year 2020.  In the context of revising  the zoning documents, the Intraplan research institute has made an adjusted forecast for the development of air traffic demand at Frankfurt Airport until the year 2020.  Intraplan worked with the latest data available on the current traffic volume.  The forecast is based on the assumption that runway capacities as well as passenger and freight handling capacities will develop without incurring any bottlenecks; i.e.,  it is based on the assumption that the airport is expanded. 

Based on these premises, air traffic at Frankfurt Airport is expected to grow further:

• While in 2005 some 52 million passengers used our airport, this number is anticipated to grow to 88.3 million (originating traffic without transit) in the year 2020. 
• This corresponds to an annual passenger growth of 3.5 percent. 
• Cargo and mail tonnage carried will increase by more than 70 percent to a total of 3.16 million metric tons in 2020. 
• Demand for flight movements is expected to rise to about 700,000 movements per year in 2020 from 490,000 movements in 2005. 

About half of all passengers at Frankfurt Airport are transfers.  According to the forecast this will not change in the future. This documents that Frankfurt Airport will continue to maintain its role as one of the most  significant global air transportation hubs – provided capacity is growing in keeping with demand.  The adjusted forecast constitutes a demand analysis, which is based on the assumption that sufficient capacities will be made available. More than ever, the adjusted forecast confirms the need and urgency of expanding Frankfurt Airport. 

Forecasted Passenger Growth 2020 (Passengers in million)